With a population of just over 1,500 students, Fontbonne is small—and mighty. Fontbonne University is a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and is committed to the common good through the daily pursuit of transformative education, inspiring students to become global citizens who think critically, act ethically and serve responsibly. In 1841, six Sisters of St. Joseph traveled from France to teach deaf children in Carondelet, a small community in south St. Louis, Missouri; and in 1923, they established Fontbonne College to serve and educate women. Throughout its almost 100 years, Fontbonne University has continued to respond to changes in the world and to prepare students for the challenges they will encounter. In 1947, Fontbonne admitted our first African-American students; in 1971, our first male students; and in 1975, our first graduate students. To this day, Fontbonne University offers signature programs in education, including deaf and special education and communication disorders, harkening back to the Sisters of St. Joseph’s initial mission to St. Louis. Today, we offer more than 42 majors, 35 minors and 17 graduate programs. Eighty-five percent of our alumni live and work in the St. Louis area, impacting the region through their work and service.
