[1] The Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul came to Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1858 and began teaching boys and girls.

Arthur Morton Murphy who was born in Electric Peak, Montana and earned his doctorate at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, was chosen as the school's first president, and served in that capacity for 25 years.

In 1974, Saint Mary College became the first four-year institution to offer a degree completion in Kansas City.

The school's first fully endowed chair was inaugurated in 1989, honoring the retirement of Sister Mary Janet.

It is near a nature preserve and has stately academic buildings, indoor athletic facilities, and outdoor playing fields.

Its main function is accelerated degree completion and graduate programs and it is home to various resource centers.

[3] Saint Mary's offers Masters in Art education at Sacred Heart in Shawnee, Kansas, and has an online degree program given in eight-week sessions.

[7] The University of Saint Mary cross country and track & field teams have won 21 KCAC conference championships since the inception of the program in 2011–2012.

The Spires have an active streak going while winning nine straight KCAC men's cross country conference championships from 2013–2021.

The Spires are led by head cross country and track & field coach Alstin Benton.