Historical Origins and Founding Background
The history of the University of St. Thomas traces back to Cuba, where the Augustinian Order of the United States established the University of St. Thomas in Havana in 1946. In 1961, after the Castro regime expelled the Augustinians from Cuba, several Augustinian friars arrived in Miami and temporarily settled at a private college called Bethcan College. The institution received accreditation in 1968; in 1984, it officially began offering university-level programs under the name University of St. Thomas; and in 1988, it became a university sponsored by the Catholic Diocese of Miami, making it the first university in Florida sponsored by a Catholic diocese. Digitized Templates of American University Diplomas
Location and Campus Environment
The university is located in Miami Gardens, Florida, on a 140-acre campus known for its beautiful scenery and year-round spring-like weather. Miami is approximately a 20-minute drive from downtown Miami and the tourist town of Fort Lauderdale. As a major metropolis, Miami offers students numerous internship and job opportunities in finance, business, media, and international trade. The university features four residential colleges and modern academic facilities, including the Gus Machado School of Business, the Law School building, and the Fernández Family Center for Leadership and Health.
Scholarships and Financial Aid System
The University of St. Thomas is committed to making a quality education accessible. For the 2025–2026 academic year, 100% of undergraduate students will receive some form of financial aid, with the university awarding over $40 million in institutional scholarships annually. Freshmen are eligible for merit-based scholarships of up to $56,000 per year. The university offers a comprehensive scholarship system tailored to students from diverse backgrounds; please refer to the table below for details:
| Scholarship Name | Amount | Main Eligibility Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Presidential Scholarship | Up to $13,000 per year | U.S. high school GPA of 3.6 or higher |
| Dean’s Scholarship | Up to $11,000 per year | U.S. high school GPA of 3.0 or higher |
| Catholic High School Graduate Scholarship | Up to $14,000 per year | Graduates of U.S. private Catholic high schools or STU dual-enrollment students with a GPA of 2.5 or higher |
| Campus Visit Scholarship | Total of $4,000 | Attend an on-campus visit and complete the application for admission |
| Law School Merit Scholarship | $10,000 to $32,000 | Automatically reviewed based on LSAT scores, academic records, and prior experience |
Student Clubs and Campus Culture
The University of St. Thomas offers a wide variety of student organizations and clubs, ranging from academic and professional groups to social, cultural, athletic, and service-oriented groups, all designed to foster a sense of belonging and help students develop their strengths. Clubs and organizations cover fields such as criminal justice, cybersecurity, engineering, politics, journalism, law, business, and health, as well as the Black Student Union, the Caribbean Student Association, and other ethnic student organizations. If a student is dissatisfied with an existing organization, they can start their own. The Bobcats are St. Thomas University’s student athletic teams competing in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, and students demonstrate strong competitiveness in basketball, American football, and baseball. Students can fully experience a rich extracurricular life and an open, inclusive campus atmosphere, as the university’s acceptance rate exceeds 98%.
