As the nation’s only historically Black and Catholic institution, Xavier has a nearly hundred-year history of making education accessible for those historically marginalized and overlooked. Many modern Xavierites, like the alums whose footsteps they follow, are first-generation students, meaning that they are the first in their immediate family to go to college. This often has a ripple effect, inspiring the younger members of their family to also attend college and earn their degrees. One such first-generation student, junior Destiny Robinson, shares a poem on the strength of Black women in honor of Women’s History Month and provided a write-up about how Xavier’s mission and the university’s literary journal, “New Voices,” has provided her a platform to develop as a student leader and ignited her aspirations for serving as a role model for the younger generation.

Freshman Makaila Young, who is studying biology with minors in chemistry and Spanish, has been highlighted as a dedicated student and shining example of resilience and achievement with her recent selection as a recipient of the prestigious Bridging the Dream Scholarship.

Recent data analysis from OnlineU, a higher education resource for prospective students, shows that Xavier alumni demonstrate higher earning power across various industries and ranks Xavier as the #2 HBCU in the nation for return on investment (ROI). Xavier also demonstrates the highest ROI for Black graduates in Louisiana.