St. Mary's University, founded in 1852 by Marianist brothers and priests, is the first institution of higher learning in San Antonio and the oldest Catholic university in Texas and the Southwest. Personal attention and powerful academic programs have made St. Mary's, located on 135 acres northwest of downtown San Antonio, a nationally recognized liberal arts institution. With a diverse student population of nearly 4,000 of all faiths and backgrounds, St. Mary's is home to five schools: Humanities and Social Sciences, Bill Greehey School of Business, Science, Engineering and Technology, Graduate, and Law. The University provides a Catholic education experience that evokes academic excellence while integrating liberal studies, professional preparation and ethical commitment. St. Mary's 192 full-time faculty members, 94 percent of whom hold doctoral or terminal degrees in their fields, are committed to student success in and out of the classroom. St. Mary's has approximately 70 undergraduate and graduate majors and offers over 120 degree programs, which include 2 doctoral and 2 law programs, and 12 undergraduate and 10 graduate joint programs. The student/faculty ratio of 13-to-1 permits small classes and promotes active learning.

The Marianists who came to San Antonio in 1852 responded to the call of their superiors to establish an educational institution to regenerate the people of the city. Through their work and the work of those who followed them, St. Mary’s University has maintained its reputation as "a noble institution destined to be a great education center of the Southwest."