# Avila University

> education organization in Kansas City, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q4828842](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4828842)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avila_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/avila-university

## Summary
Avila University is a private, not-for-profit Catholic educational institution located in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1916, it operates on a semester-based academic calendar and is classified by the Carnegie Classification as a master's college and university with medium programs. The university serves as a hub for higher education with a student body of 1,414 as of 2020 and maintains a selective admission rate of 42%.

## Key Facts
- **Inception**: Established in 1916.
- **Location**: 11901 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64145-1698, United States (Coordinates: 38.9126, -94.5915).
- **Institution Type**: Private not-for-profit educational institution and Catholic Church-affiliated university.
- **Student Population**: 1,414 students (as of September 2020).
- **Faculty and Staff**: 347 employees (as of September 2020).
- **Financials**: Endowment of $11,306,231 and total assets of $56,973,118 (as of June 30, 2020).
- **Admissions**: 42% admission rate and 18% admission yield rate (2020 data).
- **Academic Calendar**: Semester system.
- **Carnegie Classification**: Master's colleges and universities: medium programs; high undergraduate; postbaccalaureate: other-dominant, with arts & sciences; four-year, small, primarily nonresidential; four-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in; professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence.
- **Identifiers**: 
  - ROR ID: 002f2sy95
  - GRID ID: grid.252626.7
  - Ringgold ID: 4191
  - SEVIS School ID: 1879
  - Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) ID: 176628
  - World Higher Education Database ID: IAU-001313
  - KISTI ID: K000206762
  - SNARC ID: Tir
  - Freebase ID: /m/0bybhz
  - GeoNames ID: 4375401
  - Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 177763036
  - Crunchbase Organization ID: avila-university
- **Digital Presence**: 
  - Website: http://www.avila.edu (English)
  - Twitter Handle: avilauniversity (Active since March 26, 2010)
  - Facebook: avilauniversity
  - YouTube Channel: avilauniversity (ID: UCVrEJwuEkpYEN5BsLrqnOqw, started February 12, 2007)
  - Social Media Followers: 3,144 (as of January 6, 2021)
  - YouTube Views: 503,956 (as of November 25, 2025)
- **Memberships**: Nonprofit Connect (verified March 27, 2024).
- **Aliases**: Formerly known as Avila College.
- **Media Assets**: Logo hosted on Wikimedia Commons; image of Thompson Hall available.
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Content available in English, Common, Persian, Italian, and Norwegian.

## FAQs
**What is the religious affiliation and academic structure of Avila University?**
Avila University is affiliated with the Catholic Church and operates on a semester-based academic calendar. It functions as a private, not-for-profit educational institution offering both undergraduate and graduate programs.

**How selective is the admissions process and what is the student body size?**
The university maintains a selective admissions profile with a 42% admission rate and a 18% yield rate as of 2020. The student population was recorded at 1,414 individuals in September 2020.

**Where is the university located and how can it be identified in global databases?**
Located at 11901 Wornall Rd in Kansas City, Missouri, the institution is identified by multiple global research identifiers including ROR ID 002f2sy95 and GRID ID grid.252626.7. It is also cataloged under the IPEDS ID 176628 and the World Higher Education Database ID IAU-001313.

**What financial standing and employee capacity does the institution hold?**
As of June 30, 2020, Avila University reported total assets of $56,973,118 and an endowment of $11,306,231. The institution employed 347 staff members as of September 2020.

**How does the university engage with the community and digital platforms?**
Avila University is a member of Nonprofit Connect and maintains an active presence on social media platforms including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Its YouTube channel, established in 2007, had accumulated over 500,000 views by late 2025.

## Why It Matters
Avila University serves as a critical educational anchor in the Kansas City metropolitan area, providing accessible higher education rooted in Catholic values. By offering a blend of professional training and arts and sciences, it addresses the need for skilled professionals in the region while fostering intellectual development. Its classification as a "selective" and "transfer-in" institution highlights its role in facilitating educational mobility for diverse student populations. The university's substantial assets and endowment reflect its stability and capacity to support long-term academic initiatives and community engagement. Furthermore, its digital footprint and membership in networks like Nonprofit Connect demonstrate its active participation in the broader ecosystem of educational and non-profit organizations.

## Notable For
- **Historical Continuity**: Operating continuously since its inception in 1916, evolving from Avila College to its current university status.
- **Catholic Identity**: Maintaining a distinct religious worldview aligned with the Catholic Church within a secular academic framework.
- **Carnegie Distinctions**: Holding a unique multi-faceted classification including "medium programs," "high undergraduate," and "professions plus arts & sciences."
- **Digital Engagement**: Achieving significant viewership on YouTube with over 500,000 views and maintaining a decade-long presence on Twitter.
- **Financial Health**: Demonstrating robust financial management with an endowment exceeding $11 million and total assets nearing $57 million.
- **Global Recognition**: Being indexed in major international databases such as ROR, GRID, Ringgold, and the World Higher Education Database.

## Body

### History and Identity
Avila University was founded in 1916 and originally operated under the alias "Avila College." It is recognized as a private, not-for-profit educational institution with a specific affiliation to the Catholic Church. The institution's identity is further defined by its classification as an educational organization situated in Kansas City, United States. Over its history, it has transitioned into a university status while maintaining its core mission of providing higher education.

### Location and Infrastructure
The university is physically located at 11901 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO, 64145-1698. Its geographic coordinates are precisely recorded as latitude 38.9126 and longitude -94.5915. The campus is situated within the city of Kansas City, with specific references linking it to grid ID grid.446521.0. Visual documentation of the campus includes images of Thompson Hall and the official university logo, both hosted on Wikimedia Commons. The postal code for the institution is 64145-1698.

### Academic Profile and Classification
Avila University operates on a semester academic calendar. The Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education categorizes it in several ways: as a "master's colleges and universities: medium programs" institution, a "high undergraduate" institution, and a "postbaccalaureate: other-dominant, with arts & sciences" entity. It is also described as a "four-year, small, primarily nonresidential" and "four-year, full-time, selective, higher transfer-in" university. Additionally, it is noted for having "professions plus arts & sciences, some graduate coexistence." The institution offers a range of programs that blend professional training with arts and sciences.

### Demographics and Admissions
As of September 2020, the university reported a total student count of 1,414. The faculty and staff body consisted of 347 employees during the same period. The admissions process is selective, with an admission rate of 0.42 (42%) and an admission yield rate of 0.18 (18%) recorded in 2020. These metrics indicate a competitive environment for prospective students.

### Financial Overview
The financial health of Avila University is documented through specific fiscal data from the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020. The institution reported total assets amounting to $56,973,118. Its endowment stood at $11,306,231 during this period. These figures underscore the institution's capacity to sustain operations and support its educational mission.

### Digital Presence and Media
The university maintains a robust digital footprint across multiple platforms. Its official website is http://www.avila.edu, which is primarily in English. On social media, the handle "avilauniversity" is used for Twitter (active since March 26, 2010), Facebook, and YouTube. The YouTube channel, identified by the ID UCVrEJwuEkpYEN5BsLrqnOqw, was launched on February 12, 2007. By November 25, 2025, the channel had accumulated 503,956 video views. As of January 6, 2021, the institution had 3,144 social media followers. Wikipedia content regarding the university is available in English, Common, Persian, Italian, and Norwegian.

### Organizational Memberships and Identifiers
Avila University is a member of Nonprofit Connect, a membership verified as of March 27, 2024. The institution is uniquely identified by a comprehensive suite of global and national identifiers. These include the ROR ID 002f2sy95, GRID ID grid.252626.7, and Ringgold ID 4191. It is also listed in the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) with ID 176628 and the World Higher Education Database with ID IAU-001313. Other identifiers include the KISTI ID K000206762, SNARC ID Tir, Freebase ID /m/0bybhz, and GeoNames ID 4375401. The Microsoft Academic ID (now discontinued) was 177763036, and the Crunchbase Organization ID is avila-university. The SEVIS School ID is 1879.

### Alumni and Community
The university maintains a specific category for its alumni, designated as "Category:Avila University alumni." This categorization helps in tracking the network of graduates and their contributions. The institution's role extends beyond the classroom, serving as a community hub in Kansas City and engaging with broader educational and non-profit networks.

## References

1. GRID Release 2017-05-22
2. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
3. GRID Release 2017-01-10
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240327111534/https://info.npconnect.org/list/ql/nonprofit-members-26)
5. Google Knowledge Graph
6. GeoNames
7. Freebase Data Dumps
8. [Source](http://www.avila.edu)
9. [Source](https://www.avila.edu/)
10. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
11. GRID Release 2015-12-14
12. GRID Release 2016-12-06
13. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
14. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
15. YouTube API
16. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
17. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)
18. National Center for Education Statistics