This Is Rockhurst University

Since 1910, Rockhurst University has been in the heart of Kansas City, dedicated to learning, leadership, and service in the Jesuit tradition. Our purpose-driven community fosters connection, curiosity and personal growth, producing graduates ready to make a meaningful impact.

Visit Campus Apply to RU Directory Campus Map

A group of female athletes pose for a group photo with Hawks props

Welcome to Rockhurst!

We help you become who you want to be, not just what.
We’re proud to be Kansas City’s Jesuit university for over 100 years!

@headline

@text

LEARN MORE

A girl smiles at a student as she leads a tutoring session

Supporting Students

Part of who we are is our dedication to supporting students so they can reach their greatest potential. It's part of our Jesuit tradition and our core value of Cura Personalis – "Care for the whole person."

Five women's soccer players pose on media day, the fifth being held horizontal in front of the others.

NCAA DII Sports

The Rockhurst Hawks are among the top NCAA Division II schools in both academics and athletics. With more than 20 teams, the Hawks compete in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) across the upper midwest.

We 💙 Kansas City!

Our city has the world's best BBQ (this is not up for debate), championship sports, spacious parks, countless concert venues, more than 200 fountains, the arts, museums... and Rockhurst University.

POINTS OF PRIDE

Ranked as the sixth best regional university in the Midwest
(U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2026)

Top 20% of all Catholic
institutions in the U.S.
(niche.com)

Rockhurst Hawk teams competing in NCAA DII

Colleges of Distinction badge, 2026-2027

2026-2027 Affordable Colleges of Distinction

2026-2027 Colleges of Distinction - Catholic

CAMPUS CULTURE & COMMUNITY

An Ed.D. faculty member gives a student a congratulatory hug

Academic Excellence

We are known for our prestigious academics and world-class faculty. Our 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio and student success teams ensure you get the attention you need to meet your academic goals. Choose from 70+ bachelor and graduate programs.

Flags hang on a rope for World Culture's Day at Rockhurst University.

Accessibility & Inclusivity

Inspired by our mission, Rockhurst aims to provide an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and accessible for all. We have several programs, initiatives and services in place that celebrate and support all members of our community.

African American man gives a speech at RU.

Center for Arts & Letters

Founded in 1989, The RU Center for Arts & Letters serves as the organizational hub and central resource for arts and humanities public programming at Rockhurst. The center engages audiences with thoughtful, intellectual and socially relevant issues.

A sign saying Rockhurst University is seen with the campus bell tower and tulips in the background

Rockhurst University Mission

On the Bell Tower in the middle of campus are inscribed words that inspire our mission, vision, and core values:

“You are called by the Society of Jesus to be men and women who reflect upon the reality of the world around you with all its ambiguities, opportunities, and challenges, to discern what is really happening in your life and in the lives of others, to find God there and to discover where God is calling you, to employ criteria for significant choices that reflect Godly values rather than narrow, exclusive self-interest, to make decisions in the light of what is truly for the greater glory of God and the service of those in need, and then to act accordingly.”

– Peter-Hans Kolvenbach, S.J., 29th Superior General of the Society of Jesus, 1997

Hawks In Kansas City & Around the World

Students pose outside a renovated home with a large key that says Welcome Home

Community Outreach

We live in a vibrant, historic neighborhood that is home to educational, community and scientific institutions. The area is steeped in culture, grassroots initiatives, ecological preservation and revitalization. We strive to be good partners with our wonderful neighbors and city.

Alumni

While more than half of Rockhurst's more than 29,000 alumni live in the Kansas City metropolitan area, every state and dozens of countries are influenced by the RU alumni who live there. Rockhurst grads are part of the more than 1.6 million Jesuit university alumni in the U.S.

Two friends pose in front of a historic site in Spain

Study Abroad

Rockhurst University students are encouraged to study in other countries through accredited programs that literally open up the classroom door to the world. Several programs are available through RU or affiliated universities in many exciting locations around the globe.

Carnegie Foundation Elective Classification - Community Engagement

Recognizing ongoing efforts to meaningfully partner with neighbors and serve beyond its campus walls, Rockhurst University earned the 2026 Carnegie Elective Classification for Community Engagement from the American Council on Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Important University Information

Quick Facts:

Accreditation

Campus Security

Human Resources / Jobs

Student Consumer Information

Campus Terminology

Mission Statement

Rockhurst is a comprehensive university and a supportive community that forms lifelong learners
in the Catholic, Jesuit, liberal arts tradition who engage with the complexities of our world
and serve others as compassionate, thoughtful leaders.

Vision Statement

To create a more just world through inclusive, innovative, and transformative education.

Our Colleges

Saint Luke's College of Nursing & Health Sciences College of Arts & Sciences Saint Luke's College of Nursing & Health Sciences College of Business & Technology Saint Luke's College of Nursing & Health Sciences Saint Luke's College of Nursing & Health Sciences

The fountains on RU campus surrounded by trees.

Sustainability

We strive to keep our campus and planet green.

Find Out How

Governance

Rockhurst is an independent, nonprofit organization governed by a board of elected trustees. The majority of our board members are Jesuit-educated CEOs or top leaders in their organizations. A maximum of 35 members and two recent graduate trustees can serve on the board.

University Administration Our Board University Administration University Administration

About Rockhurst

About Rockhurst

This Is Rockhurst University

Welcome to Rockhurst!