Viterbo University is a Catholic, Franciscan institution of higher education located in La Crosse, Wis. For over 130 years, Viterbo has been shaped by the heritage of its founding Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. The FSPA’s legacy of meeting community needs through education continues to shape Viterbo’s mission, priorities, programs, services, and partnerships. Under the leadership of President Richard C. Trietley Jr., EdD, and guided by Strategic Plan 2027- RISE, Viterbo is committed to fulfilling its vision of boldly transforming students and our communities through service, collaboration, and leadership.

Welcoming All

Viterbo is dedicated to building a campus environment where all are welcome, recognized, understood, and respected. This culture is rooted in the Franciscan core value of hospitality and reflects Viterbo’s priority of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion for all students, employees, and honored guests. The Sr. Thea Bowman Center provides resources for education and understanding of human dignity and social justice.

Educating the Whole Person

Viterbo’s focus on educating the whole person means students have individualized support from dedicated faculty and staff in their academic, personal, and professional transformation. Through academics, the core curriculum, co-curricular experiences, and community engagement, Viterbo students learn about themselves and others within the context of a diverse, global society. Viterbo’s teaching and learning integrates the liberal arts and applied experiences such as internships, clinical placements, student teaching, research and creative works, study abroad, and the Honors Program. The whole student is also shaped by faith formation, fine arts, publications, leadership development, clubs and organizations, recreation, and NAIA-II athletics.

Serving the Common Good

Viterbo’s mission is to prepare students for faithful service and ethical leadership to make a difference in the world. Viterbo offers one of the only Master of Arts in Servant Leadership degrees in the country. Serving the common good is integrated throughout Viterbo’s programs in education, business, nursing, counseling, dietetics, social work, interpreting, humanities, sciences, and the arts. The Center for Professional Learning provides customized education in servant leadership to nonprofit, industry, and public service organizations. Viterbo's D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership is a regional center for education, research, and dialogue about ethical ideas and issues. The Casagrande Institute for Higher Education Effectiveness partners with private, not-for-profit institutions to align performance with mission.

Transforming Communities

Since its founding in 1890, Viterbo has continued to meet the evolving needs of its community through mission-aligned centers and institutes, programming, and partnerships. Viterbo has been awarded over $12.5 million in federal and foundation grants to train health care professionals, improve rural communities, and prevent domestic violence. Viterbo students, employees, and alumni serve around 3,000 hours annually through the Center for Community Engagement. The Fine Arts Center and Conservatory for the Performing Arts host over 90,000 patrons each year. Viterbo's Community Gateway Center creates mutually beneficial partnerships with organizations in greater La Crosse. In collaboration with the La Crosse Boys & Girls Clubs and the Weber Center for the Performing Arts, Viterbo enriches youth programming and the arts. Viterbo's partnerships with health care systems, educational institutions, regional employers, and nonprofit organizations are catalysts for transformational change.