Creighton University
Jesuit university in Omaha, Nebraska, US
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Creighton University (/ˈkreɪtən/) is a private research university in Omaha, Nebraska, United States. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2015 the university enrolled 8,393 graduate and undergraduate students on a 140-acre (57 ha) campus just outside of downtown Omaha. It is classified among "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". The university operates the Creighton University Medical Center. It has a second campus focused on health sciences located in Phoenix, Arizona.
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Former names | Creighton College (1878–1958) |
|---|---|
| Type | Private research university |
| Established | September 2, 1878 |
| Accreditation | HLC |
Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic (Jesuit) |
Academic affiliations | |
| Endowment | $866.6 million (2025)[1] |
| President | Daniel S. Hendrickson[2] |
| Provost | Mardell A. Wilson[3] |
| Rector | Nicholas Santos[4] |
Academic staff | 692 full-time and 282 part-time (fall 2022)[5] |
| Students | 8,838 (fall 2024)[6] |
| Undergraduates | 4,647 (fall 2024) |
| Postgraduates | 4,191 (fall 2024) |
| Location | , , United States 41°15′53″N 95°56′46″W |
| Campus | Large city, 132 acres (53.4 ha) |
| Newspaper | Creightonian |
| Other campuses | |
| Colors | Blue White |
| Nickname | Bluejays |
Sporting affiliations | NCAA Division I – Big East |
| Mascot | Billy Bluejay |
| Website | creighton |
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History
The university was founded as Creighton College on September 2, 1878, through a gift from Mary Lucretia Creighton, who stipulated in her will that a school be established in memory of her husband, Omaha businessman Edward Creighton. The college began with 120 students, taught by five Jesuits and two lay teachers.[7] Edward's brother, John A. Creighton, is credited with fostering and sustaining the university's early growth and endowment. In 1878, the College of Arts and Sciences was established, and remains the largest college today.[8] Shortly after, in 1885, the Creighton University Observatory was built on campus.[9] Women were first admitted in 1913.[10]
In 1958, the college split into Creighton Preparatory School and Creighton University.[11] The university ran a four-year series of celebrations from 2012 to 2015 commemorating the fiftieth anniversaries of the four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.[12] In 2021, the university opened its Phoenix Health Sciences Campus.[13]
Academics
| Academic rankings | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Forbes[14] | 194 |
| U.S. News & World Report[15] | 104 |
| Washington Monthly[16] | 311 |
| WSJ/College Pulse[17] | 127 |
The schools and colleges at Creighton are:
- College of Arts & Sciences: the university's largest school, containing about 28% of all enrolled students[18]
- Heider College of Business
- College of Nursing
- School of Dentistry
- School of Medicine
- School of Pharmacy & Health Professions
- School of Law
Demographics
| Race and ethnicity[19] | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 72% | ||
| Hispanic | 9% | ||
| Asian | 8% | ||
| Other[a] | 6% | ||
| Foreign national | 2% | ||
| Black | 2% | ||
| Economic diversity | |||
| Low-income[b] | 12% | ||
| Affluent[c] | 88% | ||
As of Spring 2025, Creighton has a total enrollment of 8,403 students. Of those, 4,276 are undergraduate students and 4,127 are graduate students.[20]
From Creighton's Class of 2020, 14% count themselves as first-generation college attendees in their families. 26% are students of color, and 56% of the class is female.[21]
Admissions
Student clubs and organizations
The university has more than 200 student organizations.[24]
John P. Schlegel, S.J. Center for Service and Justice
The John P. Schlegel, S.J. Center for Service and Justice[25][26] (SCSJ) promotes service projects and education about justice.[27]
Performing arts
- The Department of Fine and Performing Arts houses a Chamber Choir, Gospel Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and University Chorus. The men's a cappella ensemble is known as the Creightones.
- The Creighton Dance Company's repertoire draws on classical ballet, contemporary and modern dance, jazz and musical theatre dance.
- Theatrical productions are held in the university's Lied Education Center for the Arts.[28]
Student media
- The student newspaper is The Creightonian. It was a finalist for the 2007 and 2010 Pacemaker Award for college journalism.[29]
- Shadows is Creighton's literature and arts publication.
Notable alumni
There are more than 68,470 alumni of Creighton University living in 93 countries. Nearly 30 percent live in Nebraska. The largest number of alumni outside the United States reside in Canada, Japan, and Malaysia.[30]
Notable faculty
- Raymond J. Bishop
- Virgil Blum
- Patrick Borchers
- Barbara Braden
- Raymond A. Bucko
- Judith M. Burnfield
- John Calvert
- Edward P. J. Corbett
- Frank Crawford
- Blase J. Cupich
- Ross Horning
- Henry T. Lynch
- D. S. Malik
- Francis I. McKenna
- R. R. Reno
- Joseph F. Rigge
- William J. Riley
- Robert F. Rossiter Jr.
- Roger Lawrence Schwietz
- Hugh Sidey
- Constantine Joseph Smyth
- William O. Stephens
- Lyle Elmer Strom
- LaNada War Jack
See also
Notes
- Other consists of multiracial Americans and those who prefer to not say.
- The percentage of students who received an income-based federal Pell grant intended for low-income students.
- The percentage of students who are a part of the American middle class at the bare minimum.
