Xavier University of Louisiana

New Orleans, LA · founded 1925 · 3,500 students · hbcu · Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC)

Known for: Xavier University of Louisiana is the only historically Black and Catholic university in the U.S., and it is the nation's top producer of African-American graduates who earn medical and pharmacy degrees.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #162

Top programmes

Pharmacy
Biology/Pre-Med
Chemistry
Psychology
Business
Education

Notable alumni

Regina Benjamin — 18th U.S. Surgeon General
Johnetta Elzie — Civil rights activist and prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter movement
Ruth J. Simmons — First Black president of an Ivy League institution (Brown University)
Troy Carter — U.S. Representative from Louisiana
Alexis Herman — Former U.S. Secretary of Labor
Michael L. Lomax — President and CEO of the United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
Norman C. Francis — Longtime president of Xavier University (1968-2015)

Traditions

Founders Week
Convocation and Commencement ceremonies
White Coat Ceremony for Pharmacy students
Homecoming events
Mass and Catholic liturgical celebrations

If Xavier University of Louisiana were…

As a food: gumbo made from a dark roux — Complex, carefully built from a strong foundation, takes time and patience to get right, and nourishes deeply. Xavier's academic rigor is the dark roux—you can't rush it, and it's the base for everything that comes after
As an athlete: Simone Biles — Smaller in stature but executing at the absolute highest level of difficulty, making the impossible look routine through relentless preparation. Xavier students are outperforming schools with ten times the resources thro
As a person alive today: Regina Benjamin — Former U.S. Surgeon General who served underserved communities embodies Xavier's mission: train brilliant Black healthcare professionals who'll return to heal the communities that need them most.
As a historical figure: Saint Katharine Drexel — The heiress-turned-nun who founded Xavier specifically to educate Black and Native Americans in the Jim Crow South. Her radical commitment to justice through education is Xavier's DNA.
As a movie or TV show: Treme — The HBO series captures New Orleans' resilience, culture, and community bonds after Katrina—just like Xavier rebuilt and continued its mission of training Black professionals to serve and heal.
As a US president: Barack Obama — Cerebral, service-oriented, rooted in community organizing and faith, achieving at the highest levels while staying connected to purpose. Xavier students are trained to be excellent and to give back.
As a city: Barcelona — Deeply Catholic, culturally rich, smaller than the giants but punching way above its weight class, and producing excellence that the world can't ignore. Xavier is New Orleans' academic jewel.
As an element: Platinum — Rare, precious, resistant to corrosion, and catalyzing reactions that wouldn't happen otherwise. Xavier takes talented Black students and catalyzes them into doctors and pharmacists who transform healthcare.
As a car: 1995 Honda Accord — Dependable, efficient, and laser-focused on getting you where you need to go—Xavier's pre-med pipeline and pharmacy dominance mirror this workhorse sedan's reputation for reliability over luxury. It's the car that puts i

Campus life

Xavier offers a unique campus life blending its Catholic mission with vibrant HBCU culture, emphasizing service, academic excellence, and community. Student life is active with many clubs, service organizations, and a strong focus on health sciences.