Founded in 1937 by the Felician Sisters, Madonna University is an independent Catholic, Franciscan institution of higher learning committed to teaching, scholarship, and service.
The University’s educational philosophy originates from the Franciscan spirit, which encounters God in the whole of creation, manifested by persons, events, and natural things. This view defines people as moral-ethical beings and advocates a life based on truth, goodness, and service to others, rooted in the teachings and traditions of the Roman Catholic Church. Drawing inspiration from the selfless love of Jesus Christ and his Mother, the Madonna, the University seeks to communicate a coherent understanding of reality, discernible through the spirit, mind, and imagination.
The Madonna mission
The mission of Madonna University is to instill in its students Christian humanistic values, intellectual inquiry, a respect for diversity, and a commitment to serving others through a liberal arts education, integrated with career preparation and based on the truths and principles recognized within a Felician Franciscan tradition.
Madonna’s mission receives its spirit from these Franciscan Values:
• Respect for the dignity of each person
• Peace and justice
• Reverence for creation
• Education for truth and service
Community and service
Madonna University is dedicated to meeting the educational needs of traditional and nontraditional students as they pursue associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees—and lifelong learning. In realizing all aspects of its vision, the University emphasizes a service approach through an integrated student support structure and flexible delivery systems, both on and off campus, nationally and internationally, and through in-person and distance education instruction. Since its founding by the Felician Sisters of North America, Madonna University has remained committed to the spiritual, educational, and service-oriented mission of its heritage: educating of students for truth and service.
