Avila University
History & Identity: Avila University is a private Catholic university located in Kansas City, Missouri, founded in 1916 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.
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Campus: The campus spans about 50 acres, with 13 buildings including residence halls, a performing arts center, academic buildings, etc.
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Mission: The university emphasizes a values-based education rooted in social justice and service, aiming to prepare students for “responsible, lifelong contributions to the global community.”
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Academics:
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Offers over 60 undergraduate majors, minors, concentrations, plus graduate programs.
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Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
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Popular majors: Nursing, Business, Kinesiology, Psychology, Radiologic Science, Communication, Computer Science, etc.
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Student Profile (Fall 2025):
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Total students: 3,383 (1,542 undergrad; 1,841 graduate)
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Diversity: 54% Caucasian, 21% Black, 16% Hispanic, 3% two or more races, ~2% international.
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Student-to-faculty ratio: ~ 13:1.
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Values & Strengths:
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Strong commitment to social mobility; U.S. News praised its mission to serve economically disadvantaged students.
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Small class sizes; personalized attention; high-touch faculty.
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Active campus life, with NAIA athletics (the “Eagles”), chapel/spiritual life, performing arts, student organizations.
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Flexible graduate programs, including STEM-designated master’s degrees eligible for OPT/CPT.
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Challenges / Considerations:
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Limited scale in research output (reflected in its global ranking).
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High cost for international students, though scholarships are available.
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Very small international student population, which may affect peer network / diversity support.
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