St. Thomas University

St. Thomas University International Student Insurance

St. Thomas University (STU), located in Miami Gardens, Florida, is a private, Catholic university established in 1961. Its origins trace to 1946 Havana, Cuba, when a group of American and European Augustinian Friars founded the Universidad de Santo Tomas de Villanueva. The Castro government expelled the friars from Cuba in 1961, and many of them relocated to Florida, where they opened a new school known as Biscayne College. The college gained university status in 1984 with the addition of master’s degree programs and the School of Law, and it adopted its present name to represent its new status and in remembrance of its Cuban heritage. 

Today, STU enrolls more than 4,000 students and counting each year. This enrollment figure includes more than 1,500 dual-enrollment students, high-school students who take classes for college credit at their local campuses. STU’s colors are burgundy and dark blue, and its athletic mascot is the bobcat.

Campus Offerings

STU offers more than 20 bachelor’s degrees, more than 20 master’s degrees, four doctoral degrees, and a law degree across its four schools: Biscayne College; the Gus Machado School of Business; the School of Law; and the School of Science, Technology, and Health. Unique academic offerings include justice, ministry, and sports administration. 

One noteworthy attraction on campus is the Archbishop John C. Favalora Archive and Museum. Operated in conjunction with the Archdiocese of Miami, its purpose is to preserve the history of the Roman Catholic Church in South Florida. Its holdings include documents, images, and artifacts for educational and research purposes.

Notable Alumni

Notable St. Thomas University alumni include comedian Dom Irrera; actor William Levy; journalist and television news anchor Alejandra Gutierrez Oraa; author Jose Baez; and Laurent Lamothe, the former prime minister of Haiti.