About Viterbo
Our Catholic, Franciscan Identity and Mission
At Viterbo, we commit to holistic formation: intellectual, spiritual, and social. Rooted in our Catholic and Franciscan heritage and the principles of Catholic social teaching, we pursue academic excellence while honoring human dignity, compassion, and care for others.
A Place of Heart, Mind and Purpose
Founded by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, Viterbo University is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin, close to Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois. We proudly carry a mission rooted in faith, service, and transformative education. Here, we offer more than a degree. We invite students to live with integrity, engage with community, and lead lives of purpose.
Our Leadership and Structure
Meet the administrators, trustees, academic deans, and campus leaders who steward Viterbo’s mission and vision each day.
More Information About Us
Our Story
From humble beginnings, Viterbo has grown alongside the city of La Crosse located in Wisconsin and not far from neighboring states of Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa, adapting to new challenges while holding fast to core values. Over the decades, we have expanded in reach, broadening our academic scope, deepening community partnerships, and launching innovation across campus. Today, Viterbo is a proud Catholic, Franciscan university where faith, curiosity, and service converge.
Our Future
Viterbo is committed to continuous growth by refining how we teach, how we serve, and how we support our community. As we look ahead, our direction is clear: deepen the impact of a Catholic, Franciscan education, expand access, and uphold academic excellence for years to come.
Centers, Institutes and Signature Programs
Viterbo hosts specialized centers and initiatives that drive research, community engagement, and interdisciplinary impact. Learn more about institutes in ethics, health, arts, sustainability, and more.
What Makes Viterbo Different
Small class sizes, attentive faculty, and personalized advising ensure that you’re seen, heard, and challenged to grow.
Our liberal arts foundation blends disciplines and practical application, preparing students to think critically, solve real problems, and lead with empathy.
Our identity is more than symbolic — it’s active. Through community engagement, ethical leadership, and spiritual reflection, students live their learning in service to others.
Viterbo is a cultural and intellectual hub for the region. It is a place where the arts flourish, ideas are exchanged, and important conversations happen. Through performances, lectures, and public dialogue rooted in faith and values, we invite the community to explore meaning, beauty, and purpose together.
Whether in the classroom, in research, or on the field, our graduates carry forward the Franciscan spirit by bringing knowledge, compassion, and impact wherever they go.