An Independent Nonprofit Institution Focused on the Future of Education

Recognized for its diversity, inclusion and global orientation, Webster University is also an institution with a bold mission, appropriate for today's changing times: To ensure high-quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.

With its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, Webster comprises an action-oriented global network of faculty, staff, students and alumni who forge powerful bonds with each other and with communities around the world.

50+
Webster University sites and locations across four continents

Innovative

New and creative academic approaches prepare our students to make a global impact.

Global

Our network of campuses all over the world offer unparalleled opportunities.

Diverse

We believe that a diverse student body contributes to academic excellence.

Innovative

Webster University's approach to education is always cutting edge, from its state-of-the-art buildings and learning centers, to its truly innovative facilities that not only promote student interaction, but elevate outcomes to the highest levels. Our extensive network of campus locations at home and abroad extends our reach even further, providing opportunities to experience other countries, meeting and working with a culturally diverse community of fellow students and world-class faculty members who bring their own real-world skills and knowledge to the classroom.

Photos of students honored in sports
Photos of St. Louis area teachers who are part of program for English learners
Woman wearing black gestures to audience while standing in front of a screen showing a house and picture of a couple; the auditorium is full of seated students.
Five Webster students work at a laboratory table with test tubes, pipettes and other scientific equipment.
Winter Academic All-Conference: 10 Gorloks earn academic all-conference.
In a group of six men wearing suits and one woman wearing a jacket, President Schuster and Chancellor Stroble stand in the middle, with some holding signed and framed copies of statement of support.
Group of 13 people on chess team, all wearing blue.
Woman with blond hair and a man with dark crewcut wearing military fatigues sit together at a table while smiling and looking at a computer.
Webster in the Headlines

Group of three people, wearing medical attire talk at a table with computers.

Webster Receives Grant to Address State Nursing Shortage

Funds will improve access for earning MSN

Webster University received a grant for more than $111,000 from the Missouri State Board of Nursing to improve access to the Master of Science in Nursing program, particularly for those studying to teach nursing in rural and underserved areas of the state.

Student creating animation on a computer with electronic pen, drawing on screen

School of Communications' Animation Program Among Top in Nation

The program was also ranked second in Missouri

The Animation Program was ranked 21st in the top 25 nationally, 19th in the Midwest programs, and the second-best in Missouri by Animation Career Review, a website for people with career aspirations in animation, game development/design/art, graphic design, digital art and related fields.

Overview of computers and a student in a classroom on the second floor of the Sverdrup building.

Sverdrup Second Floor Construction Complete

The new area opened Aug. 22

The second floor of Phase II of the Sverdrup Renovation was ready and waiting for the start of the school year. Students, faculty and staff were greeted with new classrooms, new labs and the new Kooyumjian Gallery featuring its first exhibit.

A female student wearing a graduation cap with black tassel and a blue Webster sweatshirt.

Webster Earns CAEP Accreditation for 22 Education Programs

Meeting rigorous standards for future educator preparation

The School of Education completed the multi-year process for certification by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), becoming one of three St. Louis institutions and eleven Missouri institutions to be CAEP-certified.

Global

Our main campus in St. Louis, Missouri serves as the worldwide hub for our locations around the world and nearly 50 across the United States. Our innovative curriculum, state-of-the-art facilities and world-class faculty members offer a diverse learning environment and real-world experience for a well-rounded education.

Travel and Study Around the World

Webster is recognized as a leader in global education.

STUDY ABROAD OPPORTUNITIES

 

 

Webster's International Reach

Classroowhere a diverse representation of students sit, one male student in back is gesturing and talking.

Webster Vienna Offers Multicultural Perspective

Explore a bachelor's degree in Austria

Webster Vienna Private University (opens in new tab) celebrates different cultures and perspectives as part of the learning experience inside and outside of the classroom. Students come to our Vienna campus to engage in different political and cultural discussions that lead to a better understanding of the world around them.

Several Study Abroad students walking in Ecuador

Webster Honored for Study Abroad Initiative

GoAbroad Innovation Award Recognized New Program

The award (opens in new tab), for “Indigenous Rights and the Rights of Nature in Ecuador,” was announced at the conclusion of the NAFSA: Association of International Educators annual conference in June.

Relief map of the Republic of Georgia with capital Tbilisi marked.

Republic of Georgia Site of New Webster Campus

First classes expected Fall 2022

Webster is opening a new campus in the South Caucasus nation, the Republic of Georgia, offering bachelor’s and master's degrees in international relations, business administration and media studies.

Selfie of Braden McMakin with the parthenon on the Athenian Acropolis in the background.

Photography Student Finds Inspiration in Athens

Trip helped to further expand his education

Webster University photography student Braden McMakin (opens in new tab) decided to study abroad at the Athens campus during the Spring term. His photographs of the historic landmarks around the city and images during the rare Athenian snowstorm were captivating.

 

Diverse

Webster DEI News

Neal Richardson and Chancellor Beth Stroble with a Thanks to our Sponsors poster.

Chancellor and Alumnus Honored by St. Louis City NAACP

Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble and Neal Richardson jointly received the Freeman/Seay Commitment to St. Louis Award

Chancellor Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble and Webster alumnus and St. Louis Development Corporation Executive Director Neal Richardson received the award on Feb. 19 at the NAACP's annual Freedom Fund Dinner (opens in new tab).

People walking along a chain-link fence with barbed wire coils beside it.

Faculty, Students Fundraising for Annual Border Trip

Legal Studies, Spanish and Nursing departments go every March

Webster's Interdisciplinary Border Project group (opens in new tab) received grants from the law firm of Sandberg Phoenix and von Gontard, PC, to support their work at the Texas/Mexico border, where they work closely with the organization ARISE Adelante and other groups to assist leaders.

DEI Conference

The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Conference provides real-world solutions that can be applied now and brings together people from education, corporations, nonprofits and the public. There is something for all of us to learn and apply in our workplace and life. As usual, this year's conference was a great success with a variety of sessions revolving around the primary theme: Every Day Inclusion: Right Here, Right Now! (opens in new tab) Guest speakers and panelists provided discussions for immediate, practical and impactful ways to practice everyday inclusion as individuals and institutions.

University Leadership


Webster President Julian Schuster stands next to Chancellor Beth Stroble as she speaks at Webster Society podium

Commitment to Excellence

Webster President Julian Schuster stands next to Chancellor Beth Stroble as she speaks at Webster Society podium

Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, PhD, right, and Julian Z. Schuster, PhD, left, lead Webster's executive team, both with a long list of accomplishments and accolades to their credit. Together they are leading Webster into the future with like-minded goals and principles.

Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, Webster University Chancellor

"Webster’s leadership for assuring both access and success for a diverse student body is rooted in its commitment to meet unmet needs and to 'leave no one behind' throughout the communities it serves globally and locally."

 

Elizabeth (Beth) J. Stroble, PhD
Chancellor, Webster University

Julian Schuster, Webster University President

"Some countries are realizing that a strong higher education system is vital to their future success. By partnering with Webster University, they are expanding their educational system to offer American-style education, which will better prepare their next generation of thought leaders to compete in this increasingly interconnected world."


Julian Z. Schuster, PhD
President, Webster University

Highest Awards and Recognitions

With campuses in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa, we have been recognized as a leader in international education for more than 30 years. Visit our international campus sites for more on the national honors, accreditation and recognitions received in their local regions.

U.S. News and World Report

Webster's Study Abroad programs ranked in the top 2% of the 1,500 colleges and universities surveyed in the “America's Best Colleges” 2020 edition of U.S. News & World Report. The distinction recognizes study abroad programs that involve substantial academic work for credit and considerable interaction between the student and the culture.

Institute of International Education

The Institute of International Education's (IIE) 2018 Open Doors report ranked Webster among the top universities in Missouri for sending students to study abroad and for hosting international students. The report also ranks Webster in the top third of all institutions for hosting international students and sending students to study abroad.

Intelligent.com

Webster University's Paralegal certificate program (opens in new tab) was ranked fourth in the country and first for international students by Intelligent.com, a news organization based in Washington state that evaluated 285 programs at 200 universities for flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost and reputation.

Great Value Colleges

Webster University is among the Great Value Colleges' Top 30 Study Abroad Programs (opens in new tab). Webster’s program was praised for its array of choices, ranging from locations in Asia, Europe and Africa to opportunities for short academic trips to Cuba, Scotland and other countries.

National CyberWatch Center

Webster University’s Cybersecurity program (opens in new tab) in the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology was recognized as offering one of the most innovative instructional methods among cybersecurity programs in the United States by the National CyberWatch Center.

U.S. News and World Report

Webster University was ranked No. 22 out of 167 Midwest Universities (opens in new tab) in the annual “Best Colleges” announcement compiled by U.S. News & World Report. The University was in a four-way tie for 22nd place on the 2023 Regional University – Midwest list.

Among the categories in the annual ranking, Webster was recognized as a “Best Value” school, as a "top performer" for social mobility and as a “Best for Veterans” school.

Webster’s non-MBA online business programs in the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology rose significantly in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual rankings (opens in new tab) of national online programs, earning an individual ranking of 137 on the list released Jan. 25, 2022.

Webster's Study Abroad program was one of only 56 out of 1,500 institutions placed on U.S. News & World Report's 2020 ranking. This was the 12th time Webster has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its study abroad program since 2003.

Wall Street Journal

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education 2020 (opens in new tab) includes Webster in its ranking of the top institutions in the country.

Washington Monthly

Washington Monthly magazine in 2019 again named Webster University as among the best universities in the country in its 2019 College Guide and Rankings, which ranked the best national universities that help “non-wealthy” students attain marketable degrees. It also listed Webster in its "Best Bang for the Buck: Midwest Universities" category. The magazine measured the “public good” that a university or college contributes in order to come up with the ranking, examining social mobility of students, research and public service.

Forbes Magazine

In 2019, Webster was recognized among America's Top Colleges by Forbes Magazine (opens in new tab) for the ninth consecutive year.

Intelligent.com

Webster University's Paralegal certificate program (opens in new tab) was ranked fourth in the country and first for international students by Intelligent.com, a news organization based in Washington state that evaluated 285 programs at 200 universities for flexibility, faculty, course strength, cost and reputation.

WalletHub

Webster University was ranked as the fifth best university in Missouri (opens in new tab), the 23rd best in the Midwest and the 135th best in the United States for undergraduate students who want to earn the best degree at the lowest possible cost.

CollegeNET

CollegeNET's Social Mobility Index found Webster excels in offering accessible and affordable bachelor’s degrees for students from households that earn less than the average national income. Importantly, the study concludes that Webster graduates typically increase their earning potential by securing employment that increases their income level from precollegiate levels. In fact, the University is one of the best in the country for increasing social mobility for these students, ranking first among all St. Louis regional institutions and sixth in the nation among private institutions.

Phi Theta Kappa Society Transfer Honor Roll

For the fifth consecutive year in 2021, Webster University was named to the Phi Theta Kappa Society Transfer Honor Roll (opens in new tab) for its work in helping students transfer from community colleges into baccalaureate programs. Webster is one of only 150 institutions — and one of four universities in Missouri — to make the list.

Returning Adults and Non-Traditional Students

College Factual ranked Webster University one of the best schools in the nation for returning adults and other non-traditional students in its 2019 Best Colleges for Non-Traditional Students analysis (opens in new tab). The ranking analyzed 1,159 colleges and universities.

National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)

Seven of Webster's School of Education graduate degree programs are awarded national recognition by their respective Specialized Professional Associations (SPA) under the umbrella of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).

Founded in 1915, Webster's main campus in St. Louis, Missouri is an exciting and vibrant residential campus that serves as an international hub for faculty, staff, students, alumni and influential community leaders. The University is a proud member of the communities it serves and has been recognized as a partner in the growth and development of its campus community in Webster Groves and Greater St. Louis.

A Top MBA Program

Webster's MBA program is ranked among the largest in the greater St. Louis region by the St. Louis Business Journal.

WalletHub

Webster University was ranked as the fifth best university in Missouri (opens in new tab), the 23rd best in the Midwest and the 135th best in the United States for undergraduate students who want to earn the best degree at the lowest possible cost.

St. Louis Graduates: Degrees with Less Debt

The nonprofit organization St. Louis Graduates in 2020 ranked Webster as one of five universities (opens in new tab) in Missouri and Southern Illinois that stand out for enrolling significant percentages of low-income students and Black students and supporting them to graduate with less debt. The reported data indicate that Webster has the highest percentage of Black undergraduate students, the highest graduation rate for Black students, and the highest graduation rate for Black Pell Grant recipients among the five schools named in the report.

Women's Foundation of Greater St. Louis

Webster University was named one of the best employers in St. Louis for women by the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis (WFSTL) in 2019. The recognition is based on the results of the annual “Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard initiative” survey.

Animation

Animation Career Review ranks (opens in new tab) Webster University among the best animation programs, with a ranking of No. 18 in the Midwest and No. 2 in Missouri in 2021.

The Economist recognized Webster University as a leader in online education (opens in new tab) in a set of studies based on research conducted after most universities and colleges switched to fully online classes at the start of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

U.S. News & World Report named three of Webster University’s online programs among the best in the country in its 2019 Best Online Programs report, highlighting Webster's online MBA, online business and online graduate education programs.

Webster's online BA in Educational Studies program was ranked among the best in the nation in a 2021 OnlineU.com report (opens in new tab).

In 2019, study.com ranked Webster University 30th in the nation (opens in new tab) among accredited colleges with online programs and its online MBA program was ranked 2nd in the nation (opens in new tab).

Webster University and the U.S. Department of Defense have worked together for 45 years to provide high-quality and cost-effective graduate programs at military installations and other locations throughout the country.

Webster's distinguished alumni include more than 200 active duty and retired generals and admirals, including several at the Pentagon, Joint Chiefs of Staff and thousands of military personnel, as well as retired military.

Military Friendly

Webster University is recognized as a Military-Friendly Top 10 School (opens in new tab) and Military-Friendly Spouse School by militaryfriendly.com.

U.S. News & World Report Best for Vets

In its “America’s Best Colleges 2022 (opens in new tab)” list, U.S. News & World Report recognized Webster as among the best universities and colleges in the United States for veterans.

U.S. Veterans Magazine

In 2022, Webster University was again recognized as a Top Veteran-Friendly School (opens in new tab) by U.S. Veterans Magazine.

Proud Participant Yellow Ribbon Program
Webster University proudly participates in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Yellow Ribbon GI Education Program (opens in new tab), designed to help military students avoid out-of-pocket tuition and fees that may exceed the post-9/11 GI Bill® tuition benefit.
Military Friendly '21-22 Bronze School
Viqtory awarded Webster University with the Military Friendly (opens in new tab) Gold designation, and Webster has been named a Top 10 School in the category of private universities offering doctorate degrees. Webster has also been designated a Military Friendly Spouse School for 2022-2023. Viqtory annually compiles a list of schools and trade schools doing the most to embrace America's veterans and active-duty military pursuing an education.
U.S. Veterans Magazine Best of the Best 2021
Webster University has been named on U.S. Veterans Magazine's "Best of the Best" list again in 2022. Webster has been on this list of schools championing veteran initiatives every year since 2015.

2022 — Bronze Award for podcast, “Webster World Report: Racism, Race & Coronavirus” at the 37th Annual Educational Advertising Awards (opens in new tab) competition.

Webster University is known for providing an environment in which diverse students can be successful and earn degrees; 52% of Webster graduate students self-identify as an ethnic minority.

Economic Diversity and Social Mobility

In its “America’s Best Colleges 2022” list, U.S. News & World Report recognized Webster (opens in new tab) for its economic diversity and success with students who receive Pell grants, and as a "Best Value" school and among "Best Colleges for Veterans." The magazine also recognized Webster on its inaugural Social Mobility ranking, which recognizes schools that best serve underrepresented students.

Diverse Issues in Higher Education (DIHE)

In 2018 DIHE again recognized Webster University as one of the top universities (opens in new tab) in the country for awarding master's degrees to several minority groups. DIHE's annual "Top 100 Degree Producers" survey is the only national report of graduate degrees earned by African American, Hispanic, Asian American and American Indian students by all traditional, nonprofit U.S. higher education institutions.

For 27 years Webster has consistently achieved top rankings since DIHE began publishing the survey in 1991 and ranks first among U.S. nonprofit, private institutions in graduating master's-level African-American and Total Minority Students for All Disciplines Combined. In the 2018 survey Webster also was recognized as:

  • First in African American master's degrees nationally among private nonprofit and public institutions, and second overall for all universities (including for-profits).
  • First for graduate degrees conferred to African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino and Asian American students for all higher-education institutions in Missouri.
  • Third nationally for master's degrees conferred to all minority men combined and second among Black or African-American men.
  • The only Missouri institution to be listed in the top 100 for Hispanic/Latino students.
  • The only Missouri institution to be listed in the top 100 for the “Total Minority Masters” category.

Women in the Workplace

Webster University was named one of the best employers in St. Louis for women, according to the Women’s Foundation of Greater St. Louis (WFSTL) “Women in the Workplace: Employment Scorecard initiative,” based on its 2018 survey.

Paraquad

Webster University was one of four St. Louis organizations honored for its accessibility efforts in 2013 by Paraquad, a nonprofit organization that has offered services to the disabled for more than 40 years. Webster was recognized for work on its St. Louis campus and its website to make classes, offices and information more accessible to those with disabilities.

NCAA

Webster University competes in several sports in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (opens in new tab) (SLIAC) as a NCAA Division III school, where in 2021, Webster won the SLIAC All-Sports Trophy for the 19th time (opens in new tab). By winning the All-Sports Trophy and the SLIAC Sportsmanship Award in the same year, Webster became just the second school to claim the SLIAC Commissioner's Cup.

Chess

Webster University's chess team is the top-ranked collegiate chess team in the United States, having won its fifth straight College Chess national championship in 2017 (opens in new tab) — the President's Cup, also known as the Final Four of Collegiate Chess — and having qualified for the Final Four eight consecutive years (opens in new tab). The team won the top spot at the annual Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship for seven consecutive years. Individual team members also represent their countries and Webster at the U.S. Open and other prestigious international championships, where they have achieved national and international titles. Webster was the first college ever to have three students in the same year represent their countries at the Chess World Cup.

Forensics and Debate

Webster's Forensics program received special recognition in 2013 from the American Forensic Association National Individual Events Tournament for Webster students qualifying for this elite national individual events tournament every year for 15 consecutive years. The program and its teams have continued to see success on the national level, most recently winning the team sweepstakes award and seeing a repeat national championship at the 2017 Pi Kappa Delta National Forensics and Debate Tournament.

2022 — Silver Award for podcast, “Webster World Report: Reviewing the Pandemic” at the 37th Annual Educational Advertising Awards competition.

Voter-Friendly Campus

Webster University has been designated as a “Voter Friendly Campus” for the third iteration of the program for the 2021-2022 time period.

The mission of the Voter Friendly Campus designation is to bolster efforts that help students overcome barriers to participating in the political process. Our University was evaluated based on a campus plan about how we would register, educate and turnout student voters in 2020, how we facilitated voter engagement efforts on our campus, and a final analysis of our efforts — all in the face of the upheaval caused by a global pandemic.

The Voter Friendly Campus initiative is led by national nonpartisan organizations, Campus Vote Project (opens in new tab) and NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (opens in new tab).

Voter Friendly Campus 2021-2022 Seal

ALL IN Silver Campus

Webster University was awarded the Silver Campus Seal by ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge for having a campus-wide turn-out of 60%-69% voter participation or higher in the 2020 Presidential Election.

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge (opens in new tab)’s (ALL IN) mission is to foster civic culture and institutionalize democratic engagement activities and programs at colleges and universities, making them a defining feature of campus life. ALL IN also strives to close voting gaps based on age and race, with a particular focus on increasing support and outreach for minority serving institutions (MSIs) and community colleges.

All In Silver Campus 60-69% voting rate Excellence in Student Voting Engagement for Presidential 2020 Election

2022 — Gold Award for the New Website at the 37th Annual Educational Advertising Awards (opens in new tab) competition.

Webster.edu won in the New Website category of the Ragan Communications PR Daily Nonprofit Communications Awards (opens in new tab) for 2021.

Webster University's Global Marketing and Communications (GMC) unit was awarded multiple gold, silver and merit awards by the 9th annual Education Digital Marketing Awards (opens in new tab), which recognize the best educational websites, digital content, electronic communications, mobile media and social media.

Innovation Through the Years

Founded in 1915 as Loretto College, Webster University has been known for its innovation since the beginning. Its commitment to ensuring high-quality learning experiences that transform students began when the Sisters of Loretto first opened the doors to provide education for young women who would otherwise not have the opportunity for higher learning. Now, its worldwide campuses, innovative learning modalities and state-of-the-art buildings and equipment continue to keep Webster at the forefront in the development of global citizens, visionaries and leaders.

Browning Hall building covered in reflective glass windows.

News and Events

What's Happening Around Campus