[6] The school's system comprises the main campus in Cincinnati, as well as regional locations for its accelerated nursing program in Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio.

It provides an education in the Jesuit tradition, which emphasizes learning through community service, interdisciplinary courses and the engagement of faith, theology, philosophy and ethics studies.

[12] The school was founded in 1831[13] as a men's college in downtown Cincinnati next to St. Francis Xavier Church on Sycamore Street.

The Athenaeum, as it was then called, was dedicated to the patronage of Saint Francis Xavier by Bishop Edward Fenwick on October 17, 1831.

[14] Upon Bishop John Baptist Purcell's request, the Society of Jesus took control of The Athenaeum in 1840, and the name was changed to St. Xavier College in honor of the 16th century Spanish Jesuit missionary, St. Francis Xavier who, like the founder of the Jesuits, Ignatius Loyola, was a Spanish Navarrese.

St. Xavier College moved in 1912 to its current Evanston location, about 5 miles (8.0 km) north of downtown Cincinnati, after the purchase of 26 acres (0.11 km2) from the Avondale Athletic Club.

[21] Undergraduate students attending Xavier must complete a significant number of distribution requirements that are more commonly known as the Core Curriculum.

Xavier has several honorary society chapters, including: The campus covers approximately 205 acres (0.83 km2)[29] in the City of Cincinnati (Evanston neighborhood).

[37] The other side of the Academic mall includes three buildings: Walter Schott Hall (home to the Office of Admission, Office of Financial Aid and the Departments of Modern Languages, Classics, Communication Arts, Political Science and Sociology),[38] McDonald Library (home to the University Library and Archives)[39] and Alter Hall (main classroom building on campus).

Originally constructed in 1938 by Charles F. and Elizabeth R. Williams on their property in Anderson Township, the 22-seat chapel is now located off Dana Avenue on the west end of the Academic Mall.

[48] The all-purpose area for students and events between Kuhlman, Husman and Gallagher is referred to as "The Xavier Yard."

[55] Located between University Station and the Commons Apartments, the facility houses a recreational center, an upgraded health and wellness center, and classroom facilities and labs for five academic programs: Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Health Services Administration, Sport Studies and Radiologic Technology.

[56] Xavier competes at the NCAA Division I level in the Big East Conference, and their mascot is D'Artagnan the Musketeer.

The Xavier men's swim team earned the school's first Big East Conference Championship in 2014.

[63] The Xavier men's swim team overall has captured the Big East Title in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2021 making it their second three peat and sixth championship in their eight years since joining the conference in 2013.

The musketeer mascot, who sported a handlebar mustache and a prop sword, scared younger spectators.

Fox Sports Net Ohio holds the local television rights to the Musketeers basketball games.

The Dorothy Day Center for Faith and Justice is an important part of Xavier University's mission to form men and women for others.

[70] At the beginning of freshman year, the center gives students opportunities to form community among themselves, with an effort at inclusiveness across all lines of faith and culture.