Saint Leo is proud to be one of the top-ranked regional Catholic universities in Florida according to U.S. News & World Report, and the first Catholic higher education institution in the state.
Our mission to truly live the rich Catholic values of individual and collective excellence is still as firmly intact today as it has been from our beginning.
Faith has remained a constant at Saint Leo since 1889, when the Florida legislature authorized the Order of Saint Benedict of Florida to establish the university.
Saint Leo University welcomes learners of all faiths, and those with no religious affiliation.
Respect for All
One of our proudest moments in Saint Leo's history was the decision to end racial segregation, and integrate our campus in the deep South in 1898, long before it was even legal to do so in the state of Florida.
Again, we did the right rather than popular thing when in 1973, the institution chose to expand our programs to military bases to educate military men and women at the height of the Vietnam anti-war movement.
In our mission and our actions, Saint Leo University demonstrates the Catholic value of respect for all.
Learning Across Faiths
Our vast history of integrity and responsible stewardship is uniquely woven into our academic curriculum. We maintain a student-centered environment – unique among Catholic universities in Florida and beyond – that challenges each of us to listen, learn, change, and serve, regardless of our faith or religious affiliation.
In the spirit of personal development and growth, our undergraduate students take—as part of their general education core—three courses in religion or philosophy, with no Christian or Catholic-specific subject requirements.