History of Marquette University in Timeline

Marquette University is a private Jesuit research university located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, established on August 28, 1881, by Archbishop John Henni. Initially founded as Marquette College for men, it distinguished itself in 1909 by becoming the first coeducational Catholic university globally. The university's foundation and evolution are significant aspects of its historical identity.

1906: Marquette Awards Degrees

By 1906, Marquette had awarded 186 students the Bachelor of Arts, 38 the Master of Arts, and one student a Bachelor of Science degree, with limited full-time faculty.

1907: Marquette College Becomes a University

In 1907, Marquette College officially became a university after affiliating with a local medical school and relocating to its current location. Johnston Hall was constructed as the first building on the new campus. Marquette University High School became a separate institution the same year.

1908: Marquette Opens Engineering College

In 1908, Marquette opened an engineering college and acquired two law schools, which would become the foundation of its current law program.

1909: Marquette Admitted First Female Students

In 1909, Marquette University became the first coed Catholic university in the world when it admitted its first female students.

1909: Marquette Becomes Coeducational

In 1909, Marquette became the first coeducational Catholic university in the world, previously operating as an all-male institution. This marked a significant shift in the university's history.

1913: Acquisition of Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons

In 1913, Marquette acquired the Wisconsin College of Physicians and Surgeons, leading to the establishment of the Marquette University School of Medicine.

1915: Hilltop Yearbook Publication Begins

In 1915, Marquette University began publishing the university-wide yearbook called Hilltop.

1916: Female Students Increase

By 1916, Marquette's female student population increased to 375, which inspired other Catholic institutions to adopt similar approaches.

1916: The Marquette Tribune Founded

In 1916, The Marquette Tribune, the official campus newspaper, was founded.

1927: First Hospital Administration Program

In 1927, Marquette is credited with offering the first degree program specializing in hospital administration in the United States, and graduated the first two students.

May 1954: Warriors Nickname Adopted

In May 1954, Marquette's intercollegiate athletic teams were named the "Warriors".

December 1960: Football Team Disbanded

In December 1960, Marquette's Golden Avalanche football team was disbanded, shifting focus to basketball as the leading spectator sport.

1960: Football Discontinued

In 1960, Marquette University discontinued its football program for financial reasons.

1964: The Beatles Stay at Coach House Motor Inn

In 1964, The Beatles stayed at the Coach House Motor Inn, which later became Mashuda Hall, a sophomore dorm at Marquette University.

1967: School of Medicine Separates

Due to financial constraints, the School of Medicine separated from Marquette in 1967 to become the Medical College of Wisconsin.

May 16, 1968: African-American Students Protest

On May 16, 1968, African-American students withdrew from Marquette University to protest 'institutional racism' and demanded the immediate hiring of an African-American administrator. A rally led to arrests.

1977: NCAA Championship Victory

In 1977, Marquette University's men's basketball team won the NCAA Championship title, defeating the University of North Carolina.

1977: Marquette Warriors Win NCAA Championship

In 1977, the Marquette Warriors won the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.

November 13, 1983: Alpha Omega Epsilon Founded at Marquette

On November 13, 1983, the international engineering sorority Alpha Omega Epsilon was founded at Marquette University.

1985: Robert Wild's Time as Provincial Superior Begins

From 1985 to 1991, Robert Wild served as Provincial Superior of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus.

1991: Robert Wild's Time as Provincial Superior Ends

From 1985 to 1991, Robert Wild served as Provincial Superior of the Chicago Province of the Society of Jesus.

July 1994: Nickname Changed to Golden Eagles

In July 1994, the nickname was changed to the "Golden Eagles," on the grounds that previous logos had been disrespectful to Native Americans.

1994: Discontinuation of "Warriors" Nickname

In 1994, President Albert J. DiUlio discontinued the use of the "Warriors" nickname for Marquette's sports teams due to concerns over Native American mascots, leading to the adoption of the "Golden Eagles" nickname after backlash.

1996: Robert A. Wild Installed as President

In 1996, Robert A. Wild was installed as the 22nd president of Marquette University. He initiated a fundraising campaign that supported campus beautification and the construction of new buildings.

1999: Hilltop Yearbook Publication Ends

In 1999, Marquette University ended publishing the university-wide yearbook called Hilltop after 84 years of existence.

2003: Men's Basketball Team Reaches Final Four

In 2003, Marquette University's men's basketball team reached the Final Four, which significantly increased the university's national exposure.

2004: Marquette Considers Nickname Change

In 2004, Marquette began to consider changing the name back to Warriors, but instead the Board of Trustees changed the nickname to simply "Gold".

June 2005: Golden Eagles Nickname Restored

In June 2005, after considering a change back to "Warriors," the "Golden Eagles" nickname was restored following a series of votes.

2005: Marquette Joins Big East Conference

In 2005, Marquette University joined the Big East Conference.

2005: Mascot Controversy Continues

In 2005, the mascot controversy resurfaced when Marquette's leadership briefly changed the nickname to "the Gold", before reverting back to "Golden Eagles" a week later.

2005: Abbottsford Hall Conversion

Prior to the 2005–2006 academic year, Abbottsford Hall, formerly The Abbottsford Hotel and later graduate apartments, was converted into a freshman residence hall.

April 2006: Digitally-Archived Collection of Hilltop Completed

In April 2006, Marquette's librarians completed a digitally-archived collection of Hilltop, the university-wide yearbook.

December 18, 2006: $25 Million Donation to College of Engineering

On December 18, 2006, President Wild announced that an anonymous couple donated $25 million to the College of Engineering.

2006: Magis Campaign Completed

By 2006, Marquette University completed its largest-ever capital campaign, the Magis Campaign, raising over $357 million.

2006: Abbottsford Hall Conversion

Prior to the 2005–2006 academic year, Abbottsford Hall, formerly The Abbottsford Hotel and later graduate apartments, was converted into a freshman residence hall.

May 4, 2007: $51 Million Gift to School of Law

On May 4, 2007, Marquette University announced a $51 million gift from Raymond and Kathryn Eckstein for the Marquette University School of Law. At the time, the gift was the largest amount ever given to a Wisconsin university.

2008: University Purchases Marquette Apartments Complex in 2008

In 2008, Marquette University purchased the Marquette Apartments complex.

2009: Greek Life Statistics

As of 2009, 10% of the total undergraduate student body at Marquette University was active in Greek life. Sororities were slightly more popular than fraternities.

2009: Milwaukee Named a Great College Basketball Town

In 2009, CNN named Milwaukee as one of America's great college basketball towns because of Marquette University.

2009: Marquette Apartments Remodeled as McCabe Hall in 2009

Prior to the 2009–2010 academic year, the Marquette Apartments complex, purchased in 2008, was remodeled and renamed McCabe Hall.

April 2010: Rescinded Job Offer

In April 2010, Marquette University offered a position as dean of the College of Arts and Sciences to Jodi O'Brien. On May 2, the offer was rescinded due to concerns about her scholarly writing related to Catholic teaching, raising academic freedom concerns.

2010: Marquette Apartments Remodeled as McCabe Hall in 2009

Prior to the 2009–2010 academic year, the Marquette Apartments complex, purchased in 2008, was remodeled and renamed McCabe Hall.

January 2011: Administrative Hearing on Sexual Assault Allegation

In January 2011, Marquette held an administrative hearing on another sexual assault allegation, but by the time the report was filed with police, it was too late to conduct a proper investigation.

June 21, 2011: Rape Reported, Police Not Notified

On June 21, 2011, a Marquette student reported being raped, but university officers did not notify the city police. The university acknowledged violating state law, and ignoring reporting obligations for 10 years.

April 2013: Alumni Association Numbers

As of April 2013, the Marquette University Alumni Association estimated approximately 110,000 living alumni.

2013: Robert A. Wild Returns as Interim President

During the Fall 2013 semester, Robert A. Wild returned to Marquette University as interim president, following the resignation of Scott Pilarz.

2013: Marquette Begins Varsity Lacrosse Competition

In 2013, Marquette University began competition in varsity men's and women's lacrosse as a member of the Big East Conference.

July 1, 2014: Michael Lovell Becomes President

On July 1, 2014, Michael Lovell became the president of Marquette University, succeeding Robert A. Wild. Lovell was the first layperson to serve as Marquette's president.

2014: Student Disagreement Over Gay Rights Discussion

In 2014, an undergraduate student disagreed with a course instructor's handling of gay rights. The student recorded a conversation with the instructor and took the issue to the university. When the student claimed to be shut out, his professor, John McAdams, posted about it on his personal blog.

2015: QS World University Rankings for Marquette

In 2015, the QS World University Rankings placed Marquette at 701+ overall for universities worldwide.

2015: Glenn Humphrey Hall Changes Function

Prior to the 2015–16 school year, Glenn Humphrey Hall, previously a university apartment building, transitioned to a student residence hall.

2016: Marquette Listed as Worst College for Free Speech

In 2016, Marquette University earned a spot on the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education's '10 Worst Colleges for Free Speech' list after suspending professor John McAdams for his blog post regarding a student disagreement.

2016: Nursing College Opens Satellite Campus

In 2016, Marquette University's College of Nursing opened a satellite campus in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, for the blended Direct Entry MSN program.

2016: Marquette Deemed Least Sexually Healthy College

In 2016, independent research from The State of Education deemed Marquette University as the least sexually healthy college in the nation.

January 2017: $600M Project Revealed

In January 2017, Marquette University revealed plans for a $600 million project to transform the Milwaukee campus, including a BioDiscovery District, Innovation Alley, recreational facilities, residence halls, and a sports research facility.

2017: University Purchases The Marq

In 2017, Marquette University purchased The Marq, an apartment complex on the west side of campus.

2018: McCormick Hall Razed and Replaced

Following the 2018–19 academic year, McCormick Hall was razed and replaced by Wild Commons, a new residence hall.

2018: Kiplinger's Personal Finance Ranks Marquette

In 2018, Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine ranked Marquette 75th in the country among the 100 best value private universities.

July 2020: "Iggy" Named as Golden Eagle Mascot

In July 2020, Marquette Athletics announced "Iggy" as the name of the Golden Eagle Mascot—named after St. Ignatius of Loyola.

2020: Princeton Review Names Marquette as a Top College

In 2020, Princeton Review recognized Marquette as one of the "Best 386 Colleges in the U.S." and a top Midwestern school.

2020: National Merit Scholarship Program

Marquette University sponsored 1 Merit Scholarship awards in 2020 through the National Merit Scholarship Program.

2021: U.S. News & World Report Ranks Marquette's Undergraduate Engineering Program

For 2021, Marquette's undergraduate engineering program was ranked tied for 142 out of 220 schools whose highest degree is a doctorate.

2021: Marquette University College of Education's Graduate Degree Ranking in 2021

In 2021, the Marquette University College of Education's graduate degree was ranked tied for 112th out of 393.

2021: National Merit Scholars

In the 2020–2021 academic year, 2 freshman students at Marquette University were National Merit Scholars.

February 28, 2022: Updated University Seal and Motto Approved

On February 28, 2022, Marquette's board of trustees approved an updated university seal and motto, aiming to reflect Marquette's history and mission. The seal was updated with an image of a river splitting into three, representing the Milwaukee, the Menomonee, and the Kinnickinnic rivers, and three stalks of wild rice in the foreground, to represent the Potawatomi, Menominee, and Ho-Chunk nations. The motto was changed to the Jesuit motto "Ad majorem Dei gloriam".

2022: Ranking in U.S. News & World Report

In 2022, U.S. News & World Report categorized Marquette University as 'more selective'. The freshman retention rate is 89.5%, with 82.5% going on to graduate within six years.

2022: Freshmen ACT/SAT scores

In 2022, for enrolled freshmen who submitted ACT scores, the middle 50 percent Composite score was between 26 and 31. For the incoming freshman class who submitted SAT scores, the middle 50 percent Composite scores were 1180–1350.

2023: U.S. News & World Report Ranks Marquette's Programs

As of 2023, U.S. News & World Report ranked Marquette's physical therapy program tied for 13th, physician assistant program tied for 26th, speech-language pathology program tied for 55th, undergraduate nursing program as 29th, graduate nursing-midwifery program tied for 17th, masters program at 66th, and its DNP program 78th.

2023: Enrollment Numbers in 2023

In 2023, Marquette University had an enrollment of approximately 11,000 students and is classified as an 'R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity' institution.

June 9, 2024: Death of President Michael Lovell

On June 9, 2024, Marquette's most recent President Michael Lovell died at the age of 57 from sarcoma cancer.

2024: Forbes Ranks Marquette Among Research Universities

In 2024, Forbes ranked Marquette 84th among research universities and 114th overall.

2024: Wall Street Journal and College Pulse Ranking

The Wall Street Journal and College Pulse ranked Marquette at 56th in its '2024 Best Colleges in the U.S.' ranking.

2025: Marquette University Ranked by U.S. News & World Report

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranked Marquette University 86th overall among national universities. It also received rankings for "Best Undergraduate Teaching", "Most Innovative Schools", "Best Value Schools", and best university for military veterans.

2026: Class of 2026 Admissions Statistics

For the Class of 2026 (enrolled fall 2022), Marquette University received 15,883 applications and accepted 13,851 (87.2%). Of those accepted, 1,983 enrolled, a yield rate of 14.3%.

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