St. Xavier’s College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Mapusa, North Goa was established on 20th June 1963. It is one of the premier institutions to impart & provide a platform in the field of higher education for the deserving candidates by providing courses in Arts and Science at the Graduate, and Postgraduate levels.

The college is affiliated to Goa University, North Goa and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) & 12(B) under Act, 1956 on 3rd August 1976. It is re-accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with "A" Grade - (CGPA Score 3.36 on a 4 Point Scale in 3rd Cycle) in the year 2014.

St. Xavier's College, Mapusa is named after St. Francis Xavier, a world renowned Jesuit missionary from Spain, who was also an Educationist par excellence. Born in Spain in 1506, Francisco de Jaxu Xavier, as he was named, was one among the outstanding students of the Sorbonne University, Paris. Awarded his Master's Degree in Arts with distinction in 1530, he was appointed Professor of Aristotelian Philosophy in the college of Beauvais in Paris in the same year.

The college started in a vacated high school building in Bastora, a village a few kilometers from Mapusa town. Fr. Antonio Ataide Lobo, secretary of the diocesan secretariat for schools, is credited with having "played a very vital role and was instrumental in giving a facelift to the old premises."

In those days no diocesan priest satisfied the requirements of the University of Bombay to act as principal, so Bishop Rebello approached the provincial superior of the Jesuits who placed Fr. Edward D'Cruz and Fr Fonseca at the disposal of the Archdiocese of Goa, as principal and vice-principal of the fledgling college.

It was against this brilliant academic background and his lofty ambition, that the seeds of missionary zeal were sown in him by Ignatius of Loyola a fellow student of the same University, who placed before him the spiritually haunting biblical maxim: “What doth it profit a man to gain the whole world and suffer the loss of his own soul.”

This influenced Francis Xavier to such a great extent, that his worldly ambition gave way to the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience when he was ordained to the priesthood in 1537.

Xavier began with 140 students in 1963 with a first year class in Arts and Sciences. It was affiliated with the University of Bombay. After two years Frs. D'Cruz and Fonseca departed and Fr. Nicolau Pereira took over as principal. More classes were added which by 1969 included M.Sc. degrees in physics, chemistry, and botany and M.A. degrees in English, philosophy, and Portuguese along with a doctorate in Portuguese.

In 1986 the college's affiliation was switched to Goa University, North Goa. Later programs include a commerce faculty in 1993, Computer Science Bachelors in 1995, and Electronics Bachelors in 1996. Later, Computer Applications (vocational) at the B.Com. level and Industrial Chemistry (vocational) at the B.Sc. level were introduced.

St. Xavier's offers Goa's only Mass Communication degree, for students who wish to pursue a career in film production, media, or journalism. By special arrangement, they may continue their study of film production at Cavendish College, London after completion of their degree at Xavier.

Vision:

• Formation for Transformation

Mission:

• To provide balanced all round education, with the goal of forming young men and women who will be disciplined citizens and will display a high intellectual caliber as well as emotional balance and social commitment, and particularly, at helping Catholic youth to be committed followers of Christ.