Texas's largest Catholic university, founded 1881, pioneering health professions and Hispanic student success.
UIW encompasses 11 schools and colleges including the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences; Dreeben School of Education; H-E-B School of Business and Administration; School of Mathematics, Science and Engineering; School of Media and Design; and five health professions schools (Feik School of Pharmacy, Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing and Health Professions, Rosenberg School of Optometry, School of Osteopathic Medicine, and School of Rehabilitation Sciences). The university offers over 100 undergraduate majors, minors and concentrations, plus over 25 graduate and doctoral programs. All students are required to volunteer 45 hours in the community before graduating. UIW is accredited by SACS and holds specialized accreditations from ACBSP for business programs, AMTA for music therapy, CCNE for nursing, and others.
The main campus spans 154 acres in the Midtown Brackenridge district of San Antonio and Alamo Heights. Recent facilities include the Tom Benson Field House and Stadium (2008), Hillside dormitories, Joeris dormitory, Alonso Ancira Tower parking garage, renovated Ila Faye Miller School of Nursing (2011), Rosenberg School of Optometry (2009), and a $16 million ceramics and sculpture studio (2013). In 2019, UIW acquired the neighboring 8-story AT&T building and 10-acre lot, expanding the Broadway campus by 20% and creating Founders Hall. The university maintains satellite centers in northwest San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Mexico City, Irapuato, and Strasbourg, France.
UIW competes in NCAA Division I as a member of the Southland Conference with 23 teams. The university's mascot changed from the Crusaders to the Cardinals in 2004. Notable achievements include the men's swim team placing second at the NCAA Division II national championships (2010) and the synchronized swimming team winning the 2024 U.S. collegiate national championship. Men's cross country won the Southland Conference Championship in 2022 and 2024, while men's track and field won both indoor and outdoor championships in 2022, 2023, and 2024. UIW will cohost the NCAA men's basketball tournament Final Four with UTSA at the Alamodome in 2025.
Founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word and sponsored by their ministry, UIW is committed to educational excellence in a context of faith in Jesus Christ. The university emphasizes social justice and community service, with a curriculum designed to develop concerned and enlightened citizens. UIW is a Hispanic-Serving Institution and Yellow Ribbon School, ranking #1 nationally among Catholic universities for graduating Hispanic students with bachelor's degrees. The university awarded $227 million in financial aid annually and is committed to helping every student graduate with minimal debt.