A rendering gives a conceptual look at a potential design for a medical complex

Xavier receives milestone $50M gift toward College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dec 12, 2023

Xavier University today announced it has secured a transformational $50 million gift, equaling the largest donation in the university’s 192-year history.

Pledged anonymously, the gift will support the launch of the Xavier University College of Osteopathic Medicine, anticipated to welcome its inaugural class of prospective physicians in 2027.

“This historic gift will allow Xavier to take on an essential role in our nation’s primary care landscape,” said Xavier University President Colleen Hanycz, Ph.D. “As our university approaches two centuries of intellectual, moral, and spiritual education for our students, we continue laying the foundation for a Xavier that impacts even more lives in the decades ahead. I could not be more grateful for the extraordinary generosity of this donor.”

Slated to become the nation’s first Jesuit osteopathic medical school, the College of Osteopathic Medicine will address a critical need for additional primary care doctors throughout Ohio and beyond. Xavier leaders aim to send off the college’s first graduates in 2031, a remarkable exclamation point as the university celebrates its bicentennial and 200 years of excellence in Jesuit Catholic education. The inaugural class is expected to number 75 students, with plans to gradually expand class sizes to 150 per class.

“Xavier is tremendously blessed to have the support of such a humble family, whose generosity to our community cannot be overstated,” said Vice President for University Relations Gary Massa. “With President Hanycz’s leadership, we have received an unprecedented outpouring of support from people who believe in the power of Xavier and its mission. Those investing in the university today are ensuring a lasting impact for generations of future students whose lives will improve through an education rooted in Jesuit Catholic values.”

With today’s announcement, Xavier achieved its greatest two-year fundraising total ever. This effort also includes an estate gift of $50 million from Harry and Linda Fath and another $20 million gift from John and Sarah Lechleiter, supporting endeavors such as making education more affordable for future Xavier students and establishing a state-of-the-art sciences building on campus.

Read more about the proposed Xavier University College of Osteopathic Medicine.


Xavier University is a private university located in Cincinnati, Ohio, providing a liberal arts education in the Jesuit Catholic tradition. Founded in 1831, the University is the sixth-longest-running Catholic university in the nation. U.S. News & World Report ranks Xavier as one of the best universities in the country, while The Princeton Review names it one of the "Best 389 Colleges in America." Follow Xavier on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube and TikTok.

You might also like: