A University with a Passion for Learning and Living
We are the nation’s first Catholic-Franciscan university, and we cultivate confident and creative communicators, collaborative leaders, innovative problem solvers, caring business people and empathetic professionals who are respectful of themselves, others and the diverse world around them. In addition to our online programs, we also are proud of the St. Bonaventure University ground campus founded in Olean, NY in 1858. SBU Bonnies are members of the Atlantic 10 conference and serves as a place where more than 2,000 students are becoming extraordinary.
We instill in students a real passion for learning and living. We encourage independent study, critical analysis and original expression. Our professors are committed and approachable faculty who dedicate themselves to making connections with each other, with their subjects and, most importantly, with their students.
Where Education Meets Compassion
St. Bonaventure is a Catholic university dedicated to educational excellence as informed by our Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. In the words of our patron, we believe that there should be “no knowledge without love,” and thus seek to transform the lives of our students, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship.
St. Bonaventure embraces students, faculty and staff of all faiths and cultures and strives to bring out the best in every individual through meaningful relationships. As an academic and spiritual community, we endeavor to prepare our students for the challenges they will face in their professional careers and personal lives.
Our Franciscan COMMUNITY affirms the unique dignity of everyone, each person reflecting the goodness of God, and invites all of our sisters and brothers to forge bonds of mutual acceptance and understanding that create a true sense of belonging.
We are a COMMUNITY…
- Nurturing COMPASSION.
- Seeking WISDOM.
- Building INTEGRITY.
COMPASSION: We are convinced that all of creation is God’s gift, an awareness that calls forth a sense of solidarity with everyone and everything. As images of God, we strive to share God’s unconditional love, particularly with those on the margins of society — the needy, the ignored, and the excluded.
WISDOM: We are convinced that education must be transformative of the whole person, concerned not only with the intellect, but also with the will, the heart, and the body. Education must be eminently practical, not just about learning concepts and skills, but discerning how to truly live humanly, deeply, and well in the world.
INTEGRITY: We are convinced that each of us must accept responsibility for our actions and that our relationships should be based on respect for the dignity of others, honesty, and transparency, realizing that the values we espouse mean little unless they are embodied in our personal and professional lives.
If you’re looking to earn your graduate degree from a private Catholic-Franciscan university that welcomes people of all faiths and supports students in accomplishing life-changing work, complete the form on this page or call 1-844-424-4960 to speak with an Online Enrollment Advisor.
Not only will the program set you up for success, but you'll have access to an alumni base that will actually talk to you. Being a small school has its perks.
Stephon Johnson
Staff Writer
New York Amsterdam News