Founded by Fr. Carlos A. Plazas, Ph.D. and the Spanish Episcopal Services in 1980, sT. Augustine College began with an ambitious and unique goal: combining the best of bilingual education theory with adult education practice.

Chartered to operate by the Illinois Board of Higher Education on October 7, 1980, St. Augustine College opened its doors in the spring of 1981. The institution is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA) and is a founding member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). Ever since it started with its first group of 240 English as Second Language students, the institution has demonstrated its importance in improving the lives of Hispanic and other minority students.

True to its mission As the first and only bilingual college in the Midwest, St. Augustine College is truthful to its mission, which reads:

‘St. Augustine College is an independent, bilingual (dual language) institution of higher education created under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, to make the American system of higher education accessible to a diverse student population with emphasis on those of Hispanic descent; to strengthen ethnic identity; to reinforce cultural interaction; and to build a bridge to fill cultural, educational, and socio-economic gaps.’

The College provides a learning environment that is culturally and language sensitive and provides personal attention, tutoring services, computer-based instruction, flexible day and evening schedules. In reflecting the Colleges commitment to its mission and students, the majority of its staff and faculty are of Hispanic descent. The main campus is located in one of the most diverse communities in Chicago’s north side, Uptown. There are two location in the predominantly Hispanic neighborhoods of Pilsen/Little Village and Humboldt Park. In the fall of 2009 a new learning center was open in South East Side. All four locations bring higher education opportunities to predominantly Hispanic and minority communities of Chicago.

St. Augustine College serves a diverse, non-traditional and first-generation student body of over 1,700 students. Eighty-seven percent are Hispanic. The median age of our students is 31. Seventy-eight percent are female, of which 80% are raising children; 85% are heads of their households; and, 50% report incomes of $20,000 or less. This institution becomes the bridge between their educational preparation and their dreams of a better life. As a young institution of higher education, with thirty years of graduating classes, St. Augustine boasts that more than 3,500 have crossed that bridge by graduating from the College.

 Serving a diverse student body Today, the College offers a variety of educational opportunities from GED and Developmental English Courses to a Bachelor of Social Work program to Associate Degrees in Early Childhood Education, Computer Information Systems, Respiratory Therapy and more. It is important to note that St. Augustine College primarily offers Associate of Arts and Associate of Applied Sciences Degrees. It does offer and grant one Bachelor of Social Work degree. In addition, the College is the home of three childcare centers and two Head Start Centers.

Check out St. Augustine College by visiting their website here!