ABOUT SBU

We believe education should be a transformational experience, one enriched by the tools to love more humanely, deeply and well in the world.



Bell tower 2

Welcome

Our Mission

St. Bonaventure University is a Catholic university dedicated to educational excellence as informed by our Franciscan and liberal arts traditions. In the words of our patron, we believe that there should be “no knowledge without love,” and thus seek to transform the lives of our students, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship.

St. Bonaventure embraces students, faculty and staff of all faiths and cultures and strives to bring out the best in every individual through meaningful relationships. As an academic and spiritual community, we endeavor to prepare our students for the challenges they will face in their professional careers and personal lives. Learn more at Mission & Values.


SBU Snapshot

Students near De La Roche Hall entrance.

At St. Bonaventure, pathways to internships, graduate schools and careers are established in the context of a renowned liberal arts tradition.

SBU has more than 50 undergraduate majors, including eight combined-degree programs and early assurance programs.

We also offer more than 20 graduate programs, most of which are available fully online, including a new doctoral program in Educational Leadership and an online master's program in Speech-Language Pathology. 

Our most popular undergraduate academic programs are Accounting, Finance, Biology, Health Science, Sports Media, Sports Management, Inclusive & Early Childhood Education, Criminology, & Psychology. 

Campus Upgrades

The Game Room at SBU.

Over the last 10 years, SBU’s infrastructure has undergone a significant transformation — and the work continues.

• A new School of Business.
• A new home for University Ministries.
• A new School of Health Professions.
• A three-year renovation of Plassmann Hall, home to our Schools of Arts & Sciences and Education.
• A new restaurant at SBU’s golf course.
• A new welcome sign to campus.
• Renovated admissions wing in our Administration Building.
• A major renovation to The Rathskeller, our on-campus student lounge.
• An outdoor pavilion for events.
• Creation of a cutting-edge game room.
• A renovated conference center.
• Major addition planned for Jandoli School of Communication.

 

 

Alumni

Alumnus holding an alumni pin.

St. Bonaventure proudly boasts more than 32,000 alumni worldwide. They are leading some of the largest and renowned businesses and schools in the world, and they are working for every major broadcast network. Our grads are impressive — and their loyalty is legendary! They not only flock to campus each year for Reunion Weekend, but they gather regularly around the globe to celebrate the friendships, connections, and networks inspired by their beloved alma mater.

With more than 30 chapters across the nation, alumni take part in an array of events and activities each year. They also actively engage with our students in mentoring relationships, hosting interns, and providing career advice and assistance. A favorite annual gathering is the popular Bonnies4Bonnies event, which brings loyal alumni back to campus to advise current students about career opportunities.

 

 


Discover more about SBU at the links below & learn why 9 out of 10 graduates say they would choose SBU again.

 

St. Bonaventure University

University Information

As an academic and spiritual community, we endeavor to prepare our students for the challenges they will face in their professional careers and personal lives.

University Information
Accreditations & Rankings

St. Bonaventure is recognized for academic excellence by distinctive accrediting organizations and is consistently rated as a top university in the Northeast.

Accreditations & Rankings
Directories & Administration

We are a community. Our faculty and staff dedicate themselves to making connections - among themselves, their courses and, most importantly, our students.

Directories & Administration
Career Opportunities

Exciting career opportunities are available at St. Bonaventure. Contact our Human Resources staff today.

Career Opportunities
History

Founded in 1858 to promote Catholic-Franciscan education, we continue to pursue academic excellence through personalized attention that reflects the Franciscan tradition of valuing human relationships.

History
Community Programs

We are an integral part of the Olean and Allegany communities and we take great pride in sharing our facilities and expertise with our neighbors.

Community Programs
Map & Directions

The St. Bonaventure University campus is spread over 500 acres in a valley surrounded by the Allegheny foothills of southwestern New York state, a region known as the Southern Tier.

Maps & Directions
Events & Conferences

A variety of banquet spaces, theaters, conference rooms, boardrooms and classrooms, along with an in-house catering team are available!

Events & Conferences
University Strategic Plan

SBU’s five-year strategic plan (2021-2026) boldly commits to our Franciscan mission and heritage, continued innovation and a new culture of strategic thinking.

Strategic Plan
News & Events
Telford, McNeece to be honored as SBU's Alumni of the Year Jun 2, 2025 | Mary Jane “M.J.” Telford, Class of 1975, and Bill “Willie” McNeece, Class of 1965, will be honored with the William P. “Stax” McCarthy Alumnus of the Year Award Saturday evening at the 2025 Reunion Celebration at Reilly Center Arena.
Auction to benefit St. Bonaventure’s endowment to run online June 2-11 May 30, 2025 | A trip to see the Bonnies play this Thanksgiving in Florida. A Franciscan pilgrimage to Assisi and Rome. A stadium suite for 14 at a Buffalo Bills home game this fall. A luxury condo and three days of golf for a foursome at Pinehurst.
SBU announces Sr. Margaret Carney Endowed Chair May 22, 2025 | Honoring her life’s work as a beloved teacher, renowned scholar and transformative college president, St. Bonaventure University has established the Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., ’86, Endowed Chair in Theology and Franciscan Studies, marking only the second endowed chair in the university’s 167-year history.
Plein-air beauty: Léone Worden’s art at SBU Quick Center May 22, 2025 | The rich artistic legacy of Léone Elizabeth Worden, a beloved Olean-area artist and community figure, will be honored with a special exhibition opening during Reunion Weekend 2025, June 6-8, at the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University.
Alami, Kidambi recognized as 2025 Ideal Bonaventure Students May 18, 2025 | Anas Alami, a Business Management major from Brooklyn, New York, and Aahana Kidambi, a Biology major with a Psychology minor from Frederick, Maryland, have been named Ideal Bonaventure Students for the Class of 2025.
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