St. Xavier High School, Xavier University ink historic direct college admission partnership

Nov 6, 2023

Beginning in fall 2024, Xavier University will automatically admit all St. Xavier High School graduates as part of a new “direct admission” program, with the St. Xavier Class of 2024 marking the inaugural class to benefit from this historic partnership.

Each St. Xavier High School graduate will also be awarded a newly funded annual $1,831 merit scholarship award, emblematic of each school’s founding year, in addition to other scholarships that the student may qualify for during the Xavier University admission process.

Founded in 1831 as the Athenaeum in downtown Cincinnati, Xavier University and St. Xavier High School share a long tradition. In 1840, the Society of Jesus, better known as the Jesuits, assumed operation of the Athenaeum and renamed the school St. Xavier College.

St. Xavier College was the first Catholic institution of higher learning in the Northwest Territory. Now Xavier University, the institution is the fourth-oldest Jesuit university and sixth-oldest Catholic university in the United States. In 1919, Xavier University moved from its downtown location to Victory Parkway, and in 1960, St. Xavier High School moved to its current location on North Bend Road. While both institutions have distinct campuses, the leadership of the Jesuits and the connection to the schools’ patron, St. Francis Xavier, remain to this day.

“We are blessed to have such a wonderful connection through our Jesuit history,” said Xavier President Colleen Hanycz, Ph.D. “This agreement offers the young men at St. Xavier High School an opportunity to continue their Jesuit tradition through college. Guided by Jesuit values and through our very long histories together, we know St. X students to be young men of rigorous academic preparation who show care in their support of each other and those around them. Their focus on the ‘Graduate at Graduation’ ensures that the young men are open to growth, intellectually competent, loving, faithful, and committed to doing justice.”

While the program begins with the next St. Xavier first-year class, the additional scholarship award will start this coming fall. All St. Xavier High School students who apply and are admitted to Xavier will also gain the additional $1,831 scholarship along with any other scholarships Xavier awards through the enrollment process.

“This is a historic agreement, providing each and every St. X graduate with the immediate opportunity for an excellent college path, including scholarship dollars to support their next step. It offers another fantastic opportunity for our students,” said President of St. Xavier High School Tim Reilly. “It is a testament to the hard work that each of our students puts forward academically, spiritually, and morally, every day through their high school efforts.”

Both Xavier University and St. Xavier High School are approaching 200th anniversaries as the predominant Catholic institutions in the Cincinnati area. This year, St. Xavier High School celebrated 13 national merit semifinalists, saw 93% of its students achieve at least a score of 3 across all AP testing, and witnessed 90% of students perform voluntary service.

At Xavier University this year, the university saw a record number of more than 16,000 applications for admission, enrolled its most diverse class ever, and set a record of 99% graduate success for its Class of 2022.

The direct admission program to Xavier is conditioned for each student based upon the following:

• Successful completion of graduation requirements from St. X while maintaining good academic standing.
• Remaining in good disciplinary standing during all four years at St. X.
• Submission of a formal application to Xavier during the fall of the individual’s senior year in high school, along with all required materials.