[3] In 1916 Mother Adelaide Sandusky traveled from Minnesota to Northwest Ohio to establish a province of the Rochester Franciscans that eventually became the Sisters of St. Francis of Sylvania.

In 1964, the liberal arts institution was accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

As time passed and there were fewer candidates in formation, Lourdes began admitting lay students with women enrolling in 1969 and men in 1975.

[6] As a Franciscan university, Lourdes students receive a liberal arts curriculum with application to the professional studies.

[12] Lourdes University has scholarships available for academics, band, chorale, esports, campus ministry and athletics.