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The university was founded as Creighton College on September 2, 1878, through a gift from
Mary Lucretia Creighton, who stipulated in her will that a school be established in memory of her husband, prominent Omaha businessman
Edward Creighton. The college began with 120 students, taught by five Jesuits and two lay teachers.[8] Edward's brother,
John A. Creighton, is credited with fostering and sustaining the university's early growth and endowment. In 1878, the College of Arts and Sciences was established, and remains the largest college today.[9] Shortly after, in 1885, the
Creighton University Observatory was built on campus.[10] Women were first admitted in 1913.[11] In 1958, the college split into
Creighton Preparatory Schools and Creighton University.[12]
The College of Arts & Sciences is the largest school, containing about 28% of the university's enrolled students.[17] Creighton's acceptance rate is 72.7%.[18]
In 2018, the university announced a Phoenix Health Sciences Campus, which opened in 2021.[19]
The women's basketball team won the
WNIT championship in 2004. It plays all home games on campus at
D. J. Sokol Arena.
The men's soccer team maintained 17 straight
NCAA tournament appearances between 1992 and 2008. During that time, the Bluejays made three
College Cup appearances, including one championship game appearance (2000). It plays home games on campus at
Morrison Stadium.
Creighton's baseball team has one appearance in the
College World Series (1991).
Jim Hendry, the former general manager of the
Chicago Cubs, was Creighton's head coach for its 1991 CWS appearance. The program's graduates include
Hall of Fame pitcher
Bob Gibson.
The women's softball team has had two appearances in the
Women's College World Series (1982 and 1986) and appeared in six of eight NCAA Tournaments. Tara Oltman (2007–2010), the best pitcher in
MVC history, was a three-time league Pitcher of the Year and finished her career with conference records for wins, innings pitched, starts, appearances, strikeouts, and complete games. She remains the only student-athlete in Bluejays history to earn first-team all-conference honors in four consecutive seasons.
As of 2015[update], Creighton's enrollment was 8,435, of whom 4,163 were undergraduates.[21] From Creighton's Class of 2020, 14% count themselves as
first-generation college attendees in their families. 26% are students of color, and 56% of the class is female; 82% of the class have taken part in volunteer service.[22]
Student clubs and organizations
The university has more than 200 student organizations:[23]
Residence halls
There are eight residence halls. They are all
co-educational. Graves Hall, completed in August 2023, accommodates up to 400 first-year students.[24]
Student government
Creighton Students Union (CSU) is Creighton University's comprehensive student government, consisting of students from each of Creighton University's schools and colleges, founded in 1922.[25]
Inter Residence Hall Government (IRHG) was formed in 1984 to represent Creighton's residence halls.[26]
John P. Schlegel, S.J. Center for Service and Justice
The
John P. Schlegel, S.J. Center for Service and Justice[27][28] (SCSJ) promotes service projects and education about justice. The center helped develop the Cortina Community, a sophomore intentional-living community named for Jesuit priest
Jon de Cortina.[29]
Performing arts
Several vocal groups exist. The Department of Fine and Performing Arts, within the College of Arts and Sciences, houses a Chamber Choir (selective), Gospel Choir, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, and University Chorus. The men's a cappella ensemble is known as the Creightones.
The Creighton Dance Company's repertoire draws on classical ballet, contemporary and modern dance, jazz and musical theatre dance.
The Department of Fine and Performing Arts offers undergraduate degrees in Art History, Studio Art, Dance, Music, Theatre, and Musical Theatre.
Several theatrical productions are held each year in the university's Lied Education Center for the Arts.[30]
Student media
The student newspaper is called The Creightonian. It was a finalist for the 2007 and 2010 Pacemaker Award for college journalism.[31]
Shadows is Creighton's literature and arts publication.
There are more than 68,470 alumni of Creighton University living in 93 countries. Nearly 30 percent live in Nebraska. The largest number of alumni outside the United States reside in Canada, Japan, and Malaysia.[32]