Mission & History

In 1915, the Sisters of Loretto had a bold vision—to establish a university that would admit and educate only women.

Opening with five students, the institution’s first graduating class totaled just two women. Today our main campus looks quite different than it did more than a century ago—and even different from when it was renamed Webster University in 1983.

Now, the University engages more than 12,000 individuals living and working around the world, honoring the Sisters of Loretto’s legacy in the pursuit of academic excellence, equality and global citizenship.