Student Experience

You’re Welcome Here

Stand up. Speak out. Be heard. 
At Avila, you’re joining a community guided by 400+ years of social justice activism. Founded and inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ), our Catholic identity is expressed through their progressive heritage. Devoted to the needs of ordinary people and serving “the dear neighbor without distinction,” today, the Sisters’ social justice influences are at the heart of everything we are as a community. 

As a student, you’ll find the Avila campus an inclusive and eclectic community with more than 40 student organizations, honor societies, and 14 NAIA varsity sports. Our largest student organization is OMSA (Office of Ministry, Spirituality & Action) which is open to all students of all faiths.  

• 1,307 – number of students enrolled Fall 2022 
• 1/3 – of our undergraduate students have transferred to Avila 
• 40+ – student organizations and honor societies 
• FREE – admission to performances inside the new Goppert Performing Arts Center 
• FREE – admission to all Eagles games 
• FREE – use of the fitness center and indoor track 
• MASS – is voluntary, and all are welcome 
• EAGLES NEST – Pool table, ping pong tournaments, board games, and giant beanbags

Resident Students

With four residence halls, Avila offers a wide variety of housing options, including traditional double and triple rooms, four- five- and six-person suites, and four-bedroom suites with a shared kitchenette. All of our halls offer security entrances, lounges, study areas and activities through our Residence Hall Association.

Commuter Students

With two-thirds of our students living off-campus, we’ve made your home-away-from-home inviting and convenient:

• Ample study nooks, common areas, and open spaces for you to use between classes
• Access to the dining hall as well as vending machines and microwaves across campus
• The Beak N Bean coffee shop
• Three large, convenient parking lots
• Our resident students enjoy access to all the organizations, activities, and resources.

Transfer Students

You know what college is like, so you’ll quickly see why Avila is different:

• The mentor mentality of our faculty
• The welcoming feeling just walking across campus
• Internship or undergraduate research experience opportunity

Adult Students

We’ve had more than 20 years of experience perfecting our higher education programs toward the unique needs of working adult students. You have a life, maybe even a family, to support, and you’re working as hard as you can. We understand. At Avila, you’ll earn your degree at the speed of life. And we’ll be here to help you every step of the way. Flexible scheduling. Accelerated formats. Online. Weekend intensives. You’ve got this.

Graduate Students

As an Avila grad student, you’ll have access to all of our campus resources. The Learning Commons. Free 24/7 tutoring. The Mabee Fieldhouse fitness center. Computer labs. But more importantly, you’ll have access to the expertise and networks of our amazing faculty.

International Students

Avila is an amazingly diverse campus with students representing more than 13 different countries. Our small class sizes and attentive faculty can make all of the difference to a student in the U.S. Located in a residential suburb of Kansas City, you’ll have access to all of the culture, shopping, dining, and entertainment of a major mid-Western city while having a quiet and safe community to come home to on campus.

” The limitless opportunities for growth and the warmth of a diverse community have helped me not just learn, but truly belong. This journey has ignited my passion and opened doors I never imagined possible!”

Haifa Ahmed, ’25