“When I hear someone say ‘it's fine’ or ‘it's just a college,’ I think they must be going to the wrong university.”

— Darren Plummer
Gonzaga University

Gonzaga University

For more than 450 years, Jesuit education has nourished the minds of scholars around the world by integrating science and art, faith and reason, and action and contemplation. In this Catholic and humanistic tradition, Gonzaga University offers a comprehensive education that explores the human condition, addressing the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of each individual. Gonzaga is committed to educating the whole person and preparing students for a lifetime of reflection and decision-making.

Founded in 1887, Gonzaga University is located on 120 acres that border the Spokane River to south and the Logan Residential Neighborhood to the north. Making the fifteen minute walk to downtown Spokane, Gonzaga students have access to shopping, theatre, concerts, galleries, restaurants, and the site of the 1974 World's Fair, Riverfront Park. A 39-mile paved bike trail borders campus and the river, and four ski areas exist within a 90-mile radius.

Gonzaga allows for close student-faculty interaction. Professors teach all courses, including labs. Additionally, faculty members serve as academic and club advisors and hold regular office hours. Students hail from all 50 states (55% out-of-state) and 42 countries. From sports (NCAA Division I, club, and intramural) to student government and plays to social justice organizations, students have many clubs and activities in which to participate.

Gonzaga offers over 75 majors and programs in five undergraduate schools: the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Education, School of Engineering & Applied Science, and the School of Professional Studies. Three new suite-style residence halls grace campus, a new apartment complex for juniors, seniors, and graduate students, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and the McCarthey Athletic Center (home to the men's and women's basketball teams). Current construction includes renovations to the Herak Center for Engineering.

With an average annual rainfall of 16 inches, Spokane has about 260 days of sunshine a year and four very different seasons. As the second largest city in Washington (199,600 within city limits and 446,700 in the metropolitan area), Spokane hosts the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the U. S. (Hoopfest) and the largest timed road race in world (Bloomsday).