“Catholic university in Miami Gardens with programs in business, law, nursing, and health sciences.”
St. Thomas University (STU) is a private Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida — the only university in the state of Florida sponsored by a Catholic archdiocese. Its lineage traces to 1946 Havana, Cuba, where Augustinian friars founded Universidad Católica de Santo Tomás de Villanueva. After the 1961 Cuban revolution, the Augustinians re-established the institution in Miami as Biscayne College; in 1984 it became St. Thomas University and in 1988 passed to the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of Miami. That Cuban-American origin is still visible in the student body, which is one of the most Hispanic-majority student populations in U.S. higher education and deeply rooted in South Florida's Caribbean and Latin-American diaspora communities. STU is organized into three undergraduate colleges — the Gus Machado College of Business, the College of Science, Technology, Engineering & Health, and Biscayne College (liberal arts) — plus a School of Law (the only Catholic law school in the southeast) and a growing slate of graduate programs. Total enrollment is about 3,500 across undergraduate, graduate, and law students, with 18 undergraduate majors, 16 master's programs, 4 doctoral programs, and the JD. Standout programs include the Sport Administration program (one of the oldest in the nation, with NFL/MLB/NBA internship pipelines via STU's Miami-area sports connections), Intercultural Human Rights (the LL.M. program ranked among the best in the world), and health sciences pathways feeding regional hospitals. The 150-acre campus sits in Miami Gardens, minutes from Hard Rock Stadium, Wynwood, downtown Miami, and Fort Lauderdale. Student life is compact and mission-driven — campus ministry and service learning are integral, the Bobcats compete in NAIA athletics, and small class sizes (11:1 student-faculty ratio) give students close access to faculty. Roughly 43% of full-time students are first-generation college students, and STU is consistently recognized for social-mobility outcomes and Hispanic-serving status.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
International Student Enrollment (F-1)
DHS SEVIS by the Numbers (2024)
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling
STU has rolling admissions — applications accepted throughout the year for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 entry.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$34,770
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
4 years
One of the oldest sport administration programs in the country; internship pipelines into the Miami Dolphins, Inter Miami CF, Miami Heat, and MLB franchises.
1 years
A globally ranked master's-level law program featuring guest faculty from the UN, ICC, and international tribunals. Strong pipeline for students pursuing international human-rights careers.
4 years
Pre-med, pre-PA, and pre-nursing track with articulation agreements to regional health-sciences programs; small cohorts and faculty research opportunities.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $34,770
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
