Saint Joseph's University facts for kids
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Former names
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Saint Joseph's College (1851-1978) |
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| Motto | "Spirit, Intellect, Purpose" |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | September 15, 1851 |
| Accreditation | MSCHE |
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Religious affiliation
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Roman Catholic (Jesuit) |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $492 million (2024) |
| President | Cheryl McConnell |
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Academic staff
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449 |
| Students | 7,861 |
| Undergraduates | 5,071 |
| Postgraduates | 2,790 |
| Location |
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Pennsylvania
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United States
39°59′43″N 75°14′20″W / 39.99528°N 75.23889°W |
| Campus | Large city, 149 acres (60.3 ha) |
| Other campuses | Lancaster |
| Newspaper | The Hawk |
| Colors | Crimson and gray |
| Nickname | Hawks |
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Sporting affiliations
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| Mascot | The Hawk |
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Saint Joseph's University (often called SJU or St. Joe's) is a private university. It was started by a group called the Jesuits in 1851. The main campus is in Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania. There is also a campus in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Saint Joseph's is one of the oldest Jesuit universities in the United States. It is named after Saint Joseph. Today, nearly 9,000 students attend SJU. They study in many different programs, from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. The university also has special centers, like the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support.
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Jesuit Values and Identity
Saint Joseph's University is proud of its Jesuit identity. The Jesuits are a Catholic religious order. The university uses the word "Magis," which means "greater" in Latin. This highlights their goal to live "For the greater glory of God." This is the motto of the Society of Jesus.
SJU also teaches cura personalis. This Latin phrase means "care for the whole person." It means they care about students' minds, bodies, and spirits. Students take classes in many different subjects. This helps them learn about the world.
Jesuit priests live in two places on the Hawk Hill campus. One place is for retired Jesuits. The other is for active Jesuits who work at the university. On September 27, 2015, Pope Francis visited the university. He is also a Jesuit.
University History
How the University Started
Saint Joseph's University was founded by the Jesuits in 1851. It was first called Saint Joseph's College. It is the seventh oldest Jesuit university in the United States.
Classes began on September 15, 1851. There were 36 students. They met in a building next to Old St. Joseph's Church in Philadelphia. In 1866, the college moved to a larger block on Girard Avenue.
The college moved to its current City Avenue campus in November 1927. They built Barbelin Hall, which was the first academic building. In 1978, Saint Joseph's College became Saint Joseph's University. This happened after it was recognized as a university.
First College of Pharmacy in North America
On June 1, 2022, Saint Joseph's University joined with the University of the Sciences. This university was once called the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy. This merger added many health and science programs to SJU. These include occupational therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacy.
Because of this merger, SJU's history now goes back to 1821. That year, 68 pharmacists met to improve their field. They wanted to set better science standards. They also wanted to create better training programs. This made the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy the first school in the U.S. for pharmacy.
In 1825, the college started the first academic journal in the U.S. for pharmacy. The pharmacists wanted to protect people from bad medicines. They also wanted to make sure medicines were made correctly.
University Mergers
In March 2022, the plan for Saint Joseph's University to merge with the University of the Sciences was approved. The merger officially happened on June 1, 2022.
In January 2023, Saint Joseph's University announced another merger. This one was with the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. This merger happened in January 2024. With this, SJU started a new nursing program. This merger also added a third campus location for the university.
University Leaders
The first president of Saint Joseph's College was Fr. Felix-Joseph Barbelin in 1851. For many years, all presidents were Catholic priests.
On April 22, 2015, Mark C. Reed became the 28th president. He was the first person who was not a priest to hold this role. Dr. Reed was president until 2022.
On March 10, 2023, Cheryl A. McConnell was chosen as the 29th president. She is the first female president in the university's history. Dr. McConnell had been the interim president before this.
University Seal
The Seal of Saint Joseph's University shows its history and values. Many Jesuit schools share some of these symbols. The wolves over a kettle pot show how generous the Loyola family was. They gave so much food that even the wolves had enough to eat.
"IHS" are the first three letters of Jesus's name in Greek. This is a historic symbol of the Jesuits. The stripes stand for the seven sons of the House of Loyola. They died defending their home. The lily is a special symbol for the university. It honors Saint Joseph, the school's patron saint. The seal is a picture that represents Saint Joseph's and its Jesuit identity.
Academics and Learning
The university has five schools and colleges. They offer many different academic programs. All of the main professors have the highest degrees in their fields. In 2025, 83% of undergraduate students graduated within six years. Also, 89% of first-year students returned for their second year.
The university has 14 special centers and institutes. These include:
- The Academy of Food Marketing
- The Barnes Arboretum at Saint Joseph's University
- Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support
- Pedro Arrupe, S.J., Center for Business Ethics
The university also has an honors program for top students.
Campus Life
Main Campus
Saint Joseph's University's main campus is called Hawk Hill. It is located on City Avenue. This road divides the university between Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township. The university owns land on both sides of City Avenue. Hawk Hill is where the university moved in 1927.
The most famous building is Barbelin Hall. It opened in 1927. It is known for its Gothic architecture. This includes gargoyles and a tall bell tower. The bell tower was the university's logo for many years.
The two sides of the main campus are connected. There is a bridge and an underpass to cross City Avenue. The campus has 99 buildings. Key academic buildings include Barbelin Hall and the Science Center. There are also green spaces like St. Mary's Lawn.
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The Post Learning Commons is the main library. It was updated and expanded between 2011 and 2013. It has many books, journals, and electronic resources. It also has a special collection on Food Marketing.
In September 2012, the university bought the Cardinal's Residence. This building became the Maguire Wolfington Welcome Center. It is now a place for new students and their families to visit.
Campion Student Center is a busy place for students. It has offices for student life and dining areas. It also has banquet halls and a theater. The dining facilities were updated in 2023. The new dining area is called "The Kettle." It offers different food options.
St. Joe's also owns buildings in Overbrook. These are about a mile from Hawk Hill. They are dorms for sophomore students. The university is close to many other colleges. Train stations near campus make it easy to get to Center City.
James J. Maguire '58 Campus
On August 8, 2008, Saint Joseph's bought the land of the Episcopal Academy. This new area was named the Maguire Campus. It is 38 acres and is across from the Main Campus. It has three main academic buildings: Merion Hall, Connelly Hall, and Toland Hall.
The Cardinal John Foley Center is a large space. It hosts lectures, concerts, and events. The Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support is in Connelly Hall. It helps people with autism.
In 2018, SJU started working with The Barnes Foundation. The Arboretum of the Barnes Foundation is next to the Maguire Campus. Saint Joseph's University helps manage its facilities. In May 2023, the Maguire Art Museum opened within the Arboretum.
University City Campus
On June 1, 2022, SJU gained a second major campus. This happened when it merged with the University of the Sciences. The University City campus is about 24 acres. It is in University City, West Philadelphia. This area also has the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.
The University City Campus has 24 buildings. These include academic halls, labs, and dorms. It also has open spaces and sports areas. The J.W. England Library is on this campus. It has special information about pharmacy and health sciences. It also has rare books, including some that belonged to Benjamin Franklin.
Lancaster Campus
The Lancaster Campus was added in 2024. This happened because of the merger with the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. This campus does not offer on-campus housing.
Student Housing
First-year students on Hawk Hill can live in traditional dorms. These include McShain Hall, Villiger Hall, or Sr. Thea Bowman Hall. Sr. Thea Bowman Hall is the newest dorm. Sophomores can live in campus houses or apartments. Students on the University City Campus can live in the Living & Learning Commons.
Future Plans
In May 2022, the university announced a big fundraising campaign called SOAR. They want to raise $300 million. This money will improve the campus and help students with financial aid. It will also help develop academic programs. By 2023, over half of the money had been raised. A new dorm, Sister Thea Bowman Hall, began construction in Fall 2023.
Student Life
Student Population
In Fall 2023, Saint Joseph's University had 7,861 students. Most students come from the Northeast United States. About 5,036 are undergraduate students. The rest are graduate and professional students.
The student body is 55% female and 45% male. About 89% of students return for their second year. In 2025, 83% of undergraduate students graduated within six years. There is one teacher for every 10 undergraduate students. The average class size is 25 students.
Admissions
The university accepts about 83% of first-year applicants. About 89% of new students return for their second year. For the class of 2024, 98% of graduates found jobs or continued their education within six months.
Saint Joseph's University is "test optional." This means students do not have to send their SAT or ACT scores. However, they can choose to if they want.
Student Groups
Saint Joe's has 100 student organizations. It has 20 sports teams that compete in NCAA Division I. There are also 30 clubs and intramural sports. These include national fraternities and sororities.
- The Hawk is the student newspaper.
- Hawk Hill Productions creates events.
- The Student Senate represents students.
- The Villiger Debating Society is the debate team.
- Radio 1851 is the student-run radio station. It plays many types of music. It started in 1922 as WSJR. It was the first college radio station to broadcast on AM.
Publications
Saint Joseph's University publishes the SJU Magazine for alumni. It comes out three times a year. There are also magazines for the Haub School of Business and the College of Arts and Sciences.
The Hawk is the student newspaper. It is published weekly during the school year. The Crimson and Gray Literary Magazine shares student writing and art. The Drexel Library also has a newsletter. The Saint Joseph's University Press prints books and articles.
Greek Life
Saint Joseph's University has eleven social Greek organizations. These are fraternities and sororities. It also has six co-educational professional Greek organizations. About 21% of undergraduate students are part of a fraternity or sorority. The university does not provide housing for these groups.
Athletics
Saint Joseph's University is home to the Hawks. This is the university's athletics program. The school colors are crimson and gray. SJU has teams in 21 varsity sports. They compete in NCAA Division I. The Hawks are part of the Atlantic 10 Conference. The men's lacrosse team plays in the Northeast Conference.
Saint Joseph's is also a member of the Philadelphia Big 5. The other schools in the Big 5 are Temple University, Villanova University, the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and La Salle University.
Men's Basketball
While Saint Joseph's has many sports, men's basketball is very popular. SJU has a long history in basketball. Most home games are played at Hagan Arena on campus. Some games are played at the Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania.
Saint Joseph's has a big rivalry with Villanova University. This rivalry is known as the Holy War. Fans of the Hawks often chant "The Hawk Will Never Die!" This chant is well-known. In 2003, Sports Illustrated called it "the most defiant cheer in college sports."
The Hawk Mascot
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Saint Joseph's mascot is 'The Hawk'. It has been flapping its wings for over 50 years. Jim Brennan came up with the idea for a hawk mascot in 1954. He first wanted a real hawk. But then he decided on a costume. The student government bought the first costume. Brennan wore it for three years. He first appeared as the Hawk on January 4, 1956.
The Hawk is famous for flapping its wings constantly during every basketball game. This represents the Saint Joseph's motto, "The Hawk Will Never Die." The Hawk also "flies" in figure eights around the court during timeouts.
Athletic Facilities
- John W. Smithson '68 Field: This is the baseball field on the Maguire Campus. It opened in 2012. It has a special synthetic surface.
- SJU Softball Field: The softball team's on-campus field opened in 2012. It has a turf outfield.
- Robert M. Gillin Jr., Boathouse: This boathouse is on the Schuylkyll River. It is home to the rowing teams. It is part of 'Boathouse Row'.
- Sweeney Field: This is the home field for soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey teams. It was built in 1929.
- SJU Tennis Complex: The university has six tennis courts on the Maguire Campus. There are also four courts on the Main Campus.
- Michael J. Hagan Arena: This is the on-campus home for the basketball teams. It was first called Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse. It opened on November 11, 1949. The arena can hold 4,200 fans. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke here in the 1960s.
- Ellen Ryan Field: The field hockey team's field opened in 2011 on the Maguire Campus. It has a synthetic turf.
- Athletic/Recreation Center (ARC): This is the main athletic facility on the University City Campus. It has 78,000 square feet of space. It includes an indoor track, basketball court, and gym equipment.
The university also has other sports facilities. These include a multi-purpose area for basketball, tennis, and volleyball. There is an indoor jogging track and racquetball courts. There is also an esports lab on the Hawk Hill campus.
Famous Alumni
As of 2023, there are over 95,000 living alumni of Saint Joseph's University. Many have become successful in different fields.
Images for kids
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Joseph McKenna, a former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
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John Lehman, a former United States Secretary of the Navy
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Andrew von Eschenbach, a former Commissioner of the FDA
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Jamie Moyer, a former MLB pitcher
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Bruiser Flint, a college basketball coach
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William J. Green III, a former U.S. representative and former mayor of Philadelphia
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Keith Leaphart, an entrepreneur and physician
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Vince Papale, a former NFL wide receiver and inspiration for the film Invincible
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Richard J. Hughes, a former governor of New Jersey
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Jack Ramsay, a former NBA basketball coach
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Lawrence W. Pierce, a former United States circuit judge
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Katie McGinty, a former Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality
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Muffet McGraw, a former women's college basketball coach
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Jameer Nelson, a former NBA basketball player
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William T. Cahill, a former governor of New Jersey
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Frank LoBiondo, a former U.S. Congressman
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William A. Barrett, a U.S. representative from Philadelphia
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See also
In Spanish: Universidad de San José para niños
- List of Jesuit sites
