The Jesuit Difference

Our Jesuit, liberal arts education offers unlimited exploration—and limitless potential.

A 500-year-old approach to education

A Jesuit education does much more than prepare you for a stellar career; it helps you discover the best possible version of yourself: compassionate, productive, creative, daring, driven, generous, multifaceted, nimble, ethical, worldly, and wise.

The Jesuits (pronounced jeh-zoo-its) are members of the Society of Jesus, an order of Roman Catholic priests founded by St. Ignatius Loyola, patron saint of Loyola University Maryland. Their 500-year-old approach to education—alive and well today at Loyola University Maryland and 26 other Jesuit universities and colleges in the United States—has survived the test of time because its relevance has never wavered.

The Jesuits are known and admired for their exemplary, values-based teaching; pursuing a broad range of knowledge; social justice and service; cultivating and caring for the whole person—mind, body, and spirit; commitment to a life of integrity and honesty; discernment and reflection; and dedication to the greater good, the better way, the more (in Latin, the magis).

A focus on developing the whole person as a member of a caring, committed, close-knit campus community prepares Loyola students to learn, lead, and serve in our diverse and ever-changing world.

Our Jesuit mission is further supported through a variety of programs and events for all community members—students, faculty, staff, administrators, and alumni—sponsored by various departments, including the offices of diversity, equity, and inclusion and mission integration, Center for Community, Service, and Justice, and Campus Ministry.

What is the Jesuit difference?

Since 1852, Loyola has provided a Jesuit liberal arts experience that touches every part of your life and transforms every aspect of who you are—mind, body, and spirit. You will think, work, and challenge yourself more than you ever have before—and graduate with the capacities most sought, valued, and rewarded in the world today, including...

A student and professor chat in an alcove surrounded by plants

Rich Knowledge

Deep understanding in a broad range of disciplines—from the arts and humanities to the natural and social sciences—that enables you to think freely, manage diversity, and navigate complexity

Intellectual and Practical Skills

Coveted abilities that are keys to success in the modern-day world and workplace, including critical and cross-disciplinary thinking, clear and eloquent communication, and superior collaboration skills

Personal and Social Responsibility

The commitment and capacity to hold yourself accountable for your actions, be true to who you are, and use your talents and passions for the good of society

Integrative and Applied Learning

The crucial skills required to make an impact, including synthesizing knowledge, bridging differences, and applying your classroom learning to authentic problems in the world

Civic Vision and Moral Grounding

A well-rounded understanding of global history, culture, and societal structures; and a well-developed ethical framework that guides your decisions and actions

A total education that leads to transformation

College-bound students no longer need to choose between a liberal education and career preparation. The truth is that the world of work has never been more competitive, dynamic, and uncertain—and that’s exactly why employers need liberally educated college graduates more than ever before.

And nowhere is liberal education better delivered than at Loyola University Maryland.

The proof is in our outcomes: Our graduates step confidently into the world of work with a critical combination of technical knowledge and human capabilities that are highly sought and richly rewarded in today's knowledge-based economy. Data shows that liberally educated graduates can expect to double the number of jobs available to them and land positions with higher compensation than those who focus on career preparation alone. While graduates of other institutions often move laterally in their careers, liberal arts graduates consistently move up—and move the world forward.

The lives of Loyola alumni support this data. Greyhounds stand out to employers, are promoted in their careers, and by the time they are mid-career (10 to 15 years), earn nearly 30% more annually than graduates of our competitors.

Loyola's Jesuit, liberal arts education prepares students for lives and careers of meaning, success, and significance.