Enrollment: 3923
Average SAT: 571
Average ACT: 25.2
Most Popular Majors: Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies,Marketing/Marketing Management, General,Nursing/Registered Nurse (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN),
Regular Application Deadline: 02/01
Student Faculty Ratio: 12:1

Undergraduate Receiving Need-Based Financial Aid: 32
Average Freshman Total Need-Based Gift Aid: $11,289.00

2010 Top Entrepreneurial Programs: Undergraduate

Students Say - Academics
Xavier University, a medium-sized Jesuit institution "in the heart of Cincinnati," instills "a real sense of community and social conscience" while still "giving students the needed skills to succeed in all of their life endeavors." Xavier even tosses in a broad liberal arts education for good measure, courtesy of a core curriculum and distribution requirements that include lots of theology, philosophy, English, history, and foreign language. But it's business that many students-one in four, to be more precise-major in here. Undergrads tout the "great entrepreneurship program" and XU's "great record" for placing accounting students in graduate schools. XU's nursing program is also "very strong," with "an excellent" "pass rate on the NCLEX," and the education program earns similar plaudits. In all areas, XU offers "relatively small" classes, "which can make it hard when it's time for registration, but when you're in class it's great." Academics are "challenging, but the teachers and administration help make the transition [from high school] smooth and are there whenever you need their help." "Academically, it is nearly impossible to fail," a freshman adds. "There are always tutoring centers and help [is] available for any subject, whenever you need it." The school also "excels at real-world placement. If you want an internship, just ask. There's even a team of people here whose only job is to find internships and co-ops for students." Undergrads also appreciate their classmates' low-key approach; they "care, but are very laid-back in classes."

Students Say - Campus Life
Xavier University has a little bit of everything-service projects, strong academics, social events, religious events, weekend trips, and lots of other activities to get involved in. A good number of the aforementioned activities "are put on by [the] Student Activities Council and by student government." Many Xavier students "go to the sporting events," with a heavy focus on the men's basketball team, which "is obviously a huge deal here" (the team was the 2005-2006 Atlantic 10 champion). Students say XU parties "usually don't get too out of control. I've never really heard or experienced any…of the typical bad college party experiences," a sophomore reports. They also tell us "there are few bars around (mainly only one, for upper classmen) so people generally party at houses." Big-city living lures some students off campus. Cincinnati "is a great city to go out in-there are areas such as Mt. Adams and Newport that provide entertainment and dining for both college-aged students and young professionals."

Students Say - Student Body
I'd say 95 percent of the students at this school are friendly and always willing to meet new people or help you if you have a problem, writes one student, expressing a commonly held perception of Xavier undergrads. Students "spend a lot of time with varieties of people-not just a "clique" or single group of people-[so] it is fairly easy to get to know a large percentage of your classmates, especially the peers in your graduating class." In terms of demographics, "Lots of kids come from suburban areas and went to Catholic schools, so there is a large population of wealthy, religious students." Adding some ethnic diversity are "significant populations of minority students (black, Asian, international, etc.) who each have [a] strong voice on campus." Alternative culture is hardly found here, one student notes, "It's rare to find a kid with a mohawk unless the rugby team shaved his head. Most kids are clean-cut." An accounting and finance major adds, "There are no real emo/goth kids at this school (thank God)." However, a weekend degree program and night classes draw a substantial nontraditional population to the school.

John Carroll University
Loyola University of Chicago

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