Online College Review: Our Lady of the Lake University

Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) is a private Catholic university in San Antonio, Texas, founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), and offers more than 60 undergraduate and graduate programs across San Antonio, Houston, and Rio Grande Valley campuses, with a substantial portfolio of fully online programs. OLLU is meaningfully smaller than most universities reviewed in this series, with total enrollment of approximately 2,100 students, but holds several genuinely distinctive academic credentials including the first APA-accredited PsyD in Counseling Psychology in the United States and one of only three MSW programs nationally with a specialized concentration in services to Hispanic children and families.

This review examines OLLU Online specifically: the SACSCOC accreditation picture, what online programs are available, the distinctive Hispanic-Serving Institution positioning and bilingual/bicultural training that runs throughout multiple programs, what enrollment costs, who the institution is built for, and how OLLU compares to other Catholic and broader online universities. The review is structured for working professionals and adult learners evaluating online options, particularly those interested in social work, counseling, psychology, education, and related fields where OLLU’s specific specializations apply.

For the broader framework on planning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

Institutional Overview

Founding and Catholic Identity

OLLU was founded in 1895 by the Sisters of the Congregation of Divine Providence, originally as a women’s institution focused on teacher education and serving the educational needs of San Antonio’s Mexican-American community. The university went coeducational and now serves a diverse student population, but the institutional commitment to Hispanic and Mexican-American education remains central to the academic mission. OLLU is the second-oldest Catholic university in Texas and operates within the Catholic intellectual tradition while emphasizing service to underserved populations and bilingual/bicultural professional preparation.

OLLU’s Catholic identity influences institutional culture and certain academic programs (theology and Catholic studies are available) while not producing the kind of explicit faith-integrated curriculum found at evangelical Christian universities. Students of all faiths and backgrounds enroll. The institution describes its mission within the Sisters of Divine Providence’s charism of trust in providence, education, and service to the marginalized, which produces a different institutional culture than universities operated by Jesuits, Franciscans, or other Catholic religious orders.

Hispanic-Serving Institution Designation

OLLU is federally designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), a Department of Education designation requiring that at least 25 percent of full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment be Hispanic. OLLU exceeds this threshold substantially and has historically had one of the highest percentages of Hispanic students among private Catholic universities in the United States. The HSI designation produces several practical implications: federal Title V grants supporting institutional capacity for Hispanic student success, dedicated bilingual/bicultural curriculum tracks in psychology and social work, and an institutional culture that routinely incorporates Spanish-language and Mexican-American cultural perspectives into academic programs. For prospective students who specifically value or benefit from these institutional commitments, OLLU’s positioning is genuinely distinctive.

Campus and Locations

The main campus is in San Antonio, Texas, on a 52-acre urban property near downtown. OLLU operates additional locations in Houston and the Rio Grande Valley, each serving different regional student populations and offering different program subsets. Online programs are administered from the San Antonio campus and are accessible to students nationwide through SARA reciprocity. The Texas locations place OLLU within the heart of the Mexican-American population concentration in the U.S., which is a meaningful contextual factor for the institution’s HSI mission and bilingual program emphases.

Enrollment Profile

OLLU enrolls approximately 1,108 undergraduate students plus 949 graduate students, for total enrollment around 2,096. The graduate enrollment is roughly half the total student body, which is unusual at this institutional scale. Of the 949 graduate students, approximately 518 are enrolled exclusively online, which is more than half. Online programs serve a substantially older and more career-focused student population, with significant proportions of working social workers, counselors, business professionals, and educators pursuing graduate credentials. The undergraduate student-faculty ratio is 12:1, and the urban campus setting produces a different student experience than suburban or rural campus alternatives.

Is Our Lady of the Lake University Accredited?

Yes. OLLU is regionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), one of the seven U.S. Department of Education-recognized regional accrediting bodies. SACSCOC is the same accreditor that oversees Vanderbilt University, Duke University, the University of Texas system, Texas A&M, Lipscomb University, Abilene Christian University, and most major institutions across the southern United States. SACSCOC accreditation carries full federal recognition for financial aid eligibility, credit transferability, employer recognition, and graduate school admissions.

Source: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Programmatic Accreditations

OLLU holds a notably strong set of programmatic accreditations relative to its small institutional size. Several of these are particularly relevant for online students:

• APA (American Psychological Association) Commission on Accreditation: The PsyD in Counseling Psychology is APA-accredited. OLLU was the first institution in the United States to offer an APA-accredited PsyD program in counseling psychology, beginning in 1990 with APA accreditation following in 1995. The program is one of only 13 APA-accredited counseling psychology PsyD programs nationwide. APA accreditation is the gold standard for clinical and counseling psychology doctoral training and is required for most licensure pathways. Note: the PsyD is residential, not online.
• CSWE (Council on Social Work Education): OLLU’s Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) programs are CSWE-accredited. The MSW is offered fully online with a specialized concentration in Services to Hispanic Children and Families, one of only three MSW programs nationally with this specific specialization focus. CSWE accreditation is mandatory for state Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensure in all U.S. jurisdictions.
• COAMFTE (Commission on Accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy Education): The MS in Psychology with a Marriage and Family Therapy concentration is COAMFTE-accredited at both the San Antonio and Rio Grande Valley campuses. COAMFTE is the standard accreditation for Marriage and Family Therapy training and is required for state Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) licensure in many states. The MFT program is offered on-campus rather than online.
• ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association) Council on Academic Accreditation: The graduate Speech-Language Pathology program is ASHA-accredited, which is required for SLP certification (CCC-SLP) and state SLP licensure.

This combination of APA, CSWE, COAMFTE, and ASHA accreditations gives OLLU a remarkably deep portfolio of clinical specialty accreditations relative to its institutional size. For students pursuing licensure-track careers in social work, counseling psychology, marriage and family therapy, or speech-language pathology, this accreditation depth produces meaningful value beyond the institutional reputation. The CSWE-accredited online MSW with Hispanic-focused concentration is the most distinctive online program offering.

OLLU Online Programs

OLLU offers a focused set of online programs across business, technology, social work, and education. The catalog is intentionally smaller than larger online universities, but several programs hold meaningful programmatic accreditation and specialized positioning.

Online Master of Social Work (MSW)

The CSWE-accredited online MSW is OLLU’s most distinctive online graduate offering and connects directly to the institution’s HSI mission and 1942 founding of the Worden School of Social Service (the first school of social work in Texas). The program offers two pathways:

• Foundation MSW: 57-credit program for students whose bachelor’s degree is in a field other than social work. Includes generalist social work practice coursework before progressing to advanced practice with Hispanic children and families.
• Advanced Standing MSW: 30-credit accelerated program for students with a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from a CSWE-accredited program. Less than two years to complete part-time.

The specialized concentration in Services to Hispanic Children and Families is genuinely distinctive among online MSW programs. Coursework includes Hispanics in the U.S. (Policies and Programs), Theories and Perspectives on Hispanic Children and Families, Social Work Practice with Hispanic Families, Social Work Practice with Hispanic Youth, Social Work Practice with Hispanic Elders, and Psychopathology, with field placement experiences in students’ geographic locations under licensed master-level social work supervision. Graduates are eligible for state social work licensure examination (with state-specific license eligibility verification recommended). The program received the CSWE Presidential Award for Excellence in Social Work Education in 2009 and Texas Distance Learning Association recognition in 2015.

Online MSW programs use a 7-week asynchronous term format, with five field experiences required (foundation MSW) or three (advanced standing). Students complete field placements in their geographic locations through arrangements coordinated by OLLU’s field education office.

Online Business and Technology Programs

OLLU offers several online graduate business and technology programs:

• Online MBA (Master of Business Administration): General business graduate program.
• Online MS in Cybersecurity: Applied focus preparing students for industry certifications and technical cybersecurity roles.
• Online MS in Cybersecurity Management: Leadership-focused track preparing graduates for cybersecurity management and program development roles.
• Online MS in Business Analytics: Combines business strategy with data science, statistics, and operations research.
• Online MS in Data Analytics: Hands-on, interdisciplinary data analytics program.
• Online MS in Financial Analysis: Applied finance program covering corporate finance, financial analysis, fixed income, derivatives, and portfolio management.
• Online MS in Accounting: Graduate accounting program for working accounting professionals.
• Online certificates: Business Analytics and Intelligent Decision Making, Financial Analysis and Corporate Performance, and others.

OLLU’s business school accreditation should be verified directly with admissions, as accreditation status varies among institutions in this category. For students prioritizing AACSB business school accreditation specifically, alternatives like Sacred Heart University (AACSB), ASU W.P. Carey (AACSB), and University of Illinois iMBA (AACSB) provide higher-tier business credentials.

Online Bachelor’s Programs

OLLU’s online undergraduate catalog is focused:

• Online B.S. in Organizational Leadership: Adult-learner-focused undergraduate program.
• Online B.S. in Computer Information Systems and Security (CISS): Technology-focused undergraduate program.
• Various other undergraduate degree completion options through the Weekend College structure.

Online Doctoral Programs

• Online PhD in Social Work: Practitioner-scholar focused doctoral program for advanced social work careers in research, academia, or senior practice. Bridges academic research and professional practice.

The PsyD in Counseling Psychology, despite being one of OLLU’s most prominent academic credentials, is residential at the San Antonio campus rather than online. Students pursuing online clinical or counseling psychology doctoral programs should consider alternatives at Liberty University, Capella University, or other institutions with online clinical psychology offerings, while recognizing that APA accreditation requirements significantly constrain online doctoral psychology training.

Online Master’s in Literature, Creative Writing, and Social Justice

This 100% online MA and MA-MFA program is described as ‘nationally unique’ and combines creative writing with social justice scholarship. The program is unusual among MFA programs in being explicitly online-delivered and focused on social justice frameworks rather than traditional literary aesthetics. Direct online MFA in Creative Writing alternatives include programs at Bay Path University, Lindenwood University, and other institutions, but the social justice integration is genuinely uncommon.

Cost of Attending OLLU

Online Graduate Tuition

OLLU’s online graduate tuition is meaningfully lower than many private Catholic university online programs. Per-credit graduate tuition averages approximately $991, with program-specific variation. For full-time graduate students, annual tuition averages approximately $19,254. This is substantially lower than Sacred Heart University’s online MSN range of $695-$955 per credit, and meaningfully lower than Lipscomb’s graduate per-credit rate of approximately $963.

For a 30-credit Advanced Standing MSW at $991 per credit, total tuition runs approximately $29,730. For the 57-credit Foundation MSW, total tuition runs approximately $56,487. Specific MSW tuition rates and field placement fees should be verified directly with OLLU admissions, as program-specific fees apply.

Online Undergraduate Tuition

Online undergraduate per-credit tuition runs approximately $997, with program-specific variation. For a 120-credit bachelor’s degree without transfer credits, total tuition would be approximately $119,640. For a degree completion student transferring 60 credits, remaining tuition would be approximately $59,820. These rates are higher than dedicated online undergraduate alternatives like SNHU ($330/credit) or WGU’s flat-rate model, and reflect OLLU’s traditional residential pricing structure applied to online students.

Residential Undergraduate Tuition

For students considering OLLU’s residential undergraduate experience rather than online programs, full-time residential undergraduate tuition is approximately $30,804 with $924 in fees, for total tuition and fees of approximately $32,138 (2025-26). Total cost of attendance including room and board runs approximately $43,384 to $48,626 per year. Average financial aid is approximately $22,670, and the average net price after aid is approximately $19,237 to $25,959 depending on the source. The university’s financial aid is notably strong; 80 percent of first-year students receive need-based aid and 93 percent of all enrolled students receive grants or scholarships.

Hispanic-Serving Institution Aid

OLLU’s federal HSI designation produces access to specific Title V grants and other federal funding streams, some of which support institutional scholarship programs and student services. Hispanic students may qualify for HSI-specific scholarships and grant opportunities. Specific aid eligibility varies by program and individual circumstances, and prospective students should connect directly with OLLU’s financial aid office for personalized aid estimation.

For complete guidance on filing the FAFSA as an online student: FAFSA for Online Students: What to Know Before You Apply.

Outcomes Data

OLLU’s institution-wide outcomes reflect its mission of serving first-generation, working-class, and Hispanic student populations. Graduation rates and earnings figures reflect this student profile and should be interpreted in context.

The 34 percent four-year graduation rate is below national averages for private nonprofit universities and should be evaluated in context. OLLU serves a high proportion of first-generation, working-class, and Hispanic students who often work substantial hours during enrollment and take longer to complete degrees. The graduation rate is more comparable to public universities serving similar populations than to selective private universities. The $19,237 net price is meaningfully lower than most private universities in the region and reflects strong institutional commitment to access through generous financial aid.

Online graduate program outcomes data is generally more limited than undergraduate institutional data. The MSW program’s 1942 founding date, CSWE Presidential Award, and continuous accreditation history provide some signal about program quality, but specific online program completion rates and post-graduation employment data should be requested directly from OLLU admissions before enrollment.

For program-level outcomes data on any institution: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Who Is Our Lady of the Lake University Online Built For?

OLLU Online serves specific student populations particularly well, with the Hispanic-Serving Institution mission, bilingual/bicultural training emphases, CSWE-accredited social work depth, and Texas regional positioning producing a meaningful student-fit profile.

Strong Fit

OLLU Online is well-suited for several specific student profiles:

• Working professionals pursuing the CSWE-accredited online MSW with specific interest in social work practice with Hispanic populations. The Services to Hispanic Children and Families concentration is genuinely uncommon and serves social workers who specifically want this expertise. Bilingual social workers, those serving Hispanic communities, and those working in Mexican-American population centers will find this specialization particularly meaningful.
• Hispanic students who specifically value the institutional commitment to Hispanic-serving education, bilingual support, and cultural connection. OLLU’s HSI status and Mexican-American educational tradition produce an institutional culture that is uncommon at private nonprofit universities and meaningful for many prospective Hispanic students.
• Texas-region working professionals who specifically benefit from OLLU’s San Antonio, Houston, and Rio Grande Valley regional employer networks, particularly in social services, healthcare, and education sectors serving Hispanic populations.
• Working professionals pursuing graduate business or technology credentials at moderate cost. OLLU’s $991 per credit graduate tuition is meaningfully lower than Sacred Heart’s $690-$955+ per credit and lower than many private nonprofit alternatives.
• Adult learners pursuing the unique online MA in Literature, Creative Writing, and Social Justice or its MA-MFA extension. This program is genuinely uncommon among online creative writing programs and serves writers specifically interested in social justice integration.
• Working social workers pursuing the online PhD in Social Work as a practitioner-scholar credential.

Less Strong Fit

OLLU Online is less well-suited for several other student profiles where alternatives produce better outcomes:

• Students prioritizing the lowest possible cost across all program areas. SNHU at $330 per credit and WGU’s flat-rate model produce substantially lower total costs than OLLU’s $991 per credit graduate tuition, particularly for general business or technology programs without OLLU-specific specializations.
• Students seeking the broadest possible online program catalog. OLLU’s online catalog is intentionally focused, with relatively few options outside its specialized strengths in social work, business, technology, and creative writing. Students wanting wide selection should consider SNHU (200+ programs), Liberty (600+ programs), or large-scale online platforms.
• Students seeking AACSB business school accreditation specifically. AACSB-accredited online MBA alternatives include Sacred Heart University, ASU W.P. Carey, Indiana Kelley Direct, and University of Illinois iMBA.
• Students seeking online clinical or counseling psychology doctoral programs leading directly to licensure. OLLU’s APA-accredited PsyD in Counseling Psychology is residential, not online. APA accreditation requirements significantly constrain online doctoral psychology options.
• Students seeking institution-wide outcomes data showing high graduation rates and median earnings. OLLU’s 34 percent four-year graduation rate and $41,195 median earnings reflect the institution’s HSI mission and student population, but students prioritizing strong institution-wide statistics may find Sacred Heart’s 68 percent four-year graduation and $63,925 median earnings more attractive.
• Students whose target program does not specifically benefit from OLLU’s distinctive specializations. For general business, IT, education, or psychology degrees available at many institutions, the cost comparison against alternatives is more important than OLLU’s specific value proposition.

How OLLU Compares to Other Online Options

For prospective students considering OLLU Online, several other institutions cover overlapping space and deserve direct comparison.

Other Catholic Online Universities

Catholic online higher education includes a relatively small set of institutions with substantial online operations:

Sacred Heart University: A larger Catholic university in Connecticut with approximately 10,500 enrollment, AACSB business accreditation, CACREP-accredited online counseling programs, and broader programmatic accreditation portfolio. Sacred Heart is meaningfully more expensive ($690-$955 per credit graduate vs. OLLU’s $991) but produces stronger institution-wide outcomes ($63,925 median earnings vs. OLLU’s $41,195) and offers wider online program selection. Students choosing between OLLU and Sacred Heart often consider regional preference (Texas vs. Northeast), specific program availability, and whether OLLU’s HSI mission and Hispanic-focused programming aligns with their goals.

Other Catholic alternatives include DeSales University (Pennsylvania), St. Joseph’s University (Pennsylvania), Loyola University Chicago, Fordham University, and various other Catholic institutions with smaller online operations. Each has different distinctive characteristics; OLLU’s Hispanic-Serving Institution status and bilingual/bicultural specializations are distinctive among Catholic university online options.

Specialized CSWE-Accredited Online MSW Programs

OLLU’s online MSW competes with a substantial set of CSWE-accredited online MSW alternatives:

USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, Boston University, Fordham University, Walden University, Tulane University, and many state university online MSW programs provide CSWE-accredited online options. Cost varies substantially across these programs; many state university online MSWs run $500-$700 per credit, while elite private alternatives can exceed $1,500 per credit. OLLU’s distinctive value is the Hispanic-focused concentration, which is genuinely uncommon. Students prioritizing this specialization will find OLLU well-positioned; students prioritizing cost or other concentration types should compare across the full range of CSWE-accredited online MSW programs.

National Online University Alternatives

SNHU: $330 per credit undergraduate, $627 per credit graduate average. NECHE regional accreditation. Meaningfully cheaper than OLLU and offers broader program selection, but does not provide HSI mission, bilingual/bicultural training, or the Hispanic-focused MSW concentration. Southern New Hampshire University Online College Review.

WGU: Flat-rate competency-based model at approximately $4,270 per six-month term. NWCCU regional accreditation. Strong fit for self-directed learners in business, IT, education, and healthcare. Does not offer online MSW programs in the same form as OLLU. Western Governors University Online College Review.

Liberty University: Christian-affiliated with broad programmatic accreditation portfolio including CACREP counseling, CCNE nursing, and others. Liberty’s online MSW is also CSWE-accredited. Different institutional identity than OLLU’s Catholic and HSI positioning. Liberty University Online College Review.

Capella University: Primarily-online university with substantial CACREP-accredited counseling, CCNE nursing, and CSWE-accredited social work programs. Capella’s competency-based FlexPath option produces lower total cost than OLLU for self-directed learners. Capella University Online College Review.

Decision Framework for Specific Programs

If Considering the Online MSW with Hispanic Concentration

This is genuinely OLLU’s strongest online program position. The combination of CSWE accreditation, the unique Hispanic Children and Families concentration, the Worden School’s 1942 founding history, and the CSWE Presidential Award recognition produce a program that’s hard to match elsewhere. Students specifically interested in social work practice with Hispanic populations should evaluate OLLU as a primary option. Students seeking general clinical practice MSW credentials without Hispanic focus may find lower-cost alternatives at state universities or large online MSW programs more cost-effective. Verify field placement support in your geographic area before committing, since field placement availability varies by region.

If Considering the Online MA in Literature, Creative Writing, and Social Justice

This program is described as ‘nationally unique’ in combining creative writing with social justice frameworks. Direct alternatives are limited; most MFA in Creative Writing programs do not have explicit social justice integration. Students drawn to this specific framing should evaluate whether the program’s specific approach matches their writing goals and career aspirations. The MA-MFA extension provides additional credentialing for students pursuing teaching or academic careers.

If Considering Online Business or Technology Programs

OLLU’s online MBA, MS Cybersecurity, MS Cybersecurity Management, MS Business Analytics, MS Data Analytics, MS Financial Analysis, and MS Accounting compete in crowded online graduate business and technology markets. AACSB-accredited alternatives produce stronger business credentials for certain employer hiring filters; specifically, ASU W.P. Carey, Indiana Kelley Direct, and University of Illinois iMBA are AACSB-accredited online programs at competitive prices. OLLU’s value proposition in these programs is most clear for students who specifically benefit from the HSI mission, the Texas regional positioning, or the smaller institutional scale.

If Considering the Online PhD in Social Work

OLLU’s online PhD in Social Work serves working social workers pursuing practitioner-scholar careers in research, academia, or senior practice. Direct alternatives include online and hybrid PhD in Social Work programs at Walden University, Capella University, and various university social work doctoral programs. Students should compare specific dissertation requirements, residency expectations, time-to-completion data, and faculty research alignment with target career paths. OLLU’s focus on Hispanic populations and social justice could be distinctive for students whose research aligns with these areas.

If Considering Counseling Psychology (PsyD)

OLLU’s PsyD in Counseling Psychology is residential, not online. The program is highly distinctive (first APA-accredited PsyD in counseling psychology in the U.S., one of only 13 nationwide, bilingual/bicultural training emphasis), but requires residential enrollment in San Antonio. Students pursuing online counseling psychology doctoral options should look elsewhere; APA accreditation requirements substantially constrain online doctoral psychology training, and most online counseling-related doctoral programs lead to PhD or EdD credentials rather than PsyD.

Bottom Line: Should You Enroll at OLLU Online?

Our Lady of the Lake University Online occupies a distinctive niche in the online higher education market: a SACSCOC-accredited small private Catholic university with federal Hispanic-Serving Institution designation, a 130-year history dating to 1895, the first APA-accredited PsyD in Counseling Psychology in the United States (residential), one of only three online MSW programs nationally with a Hispanic-focused concentration, and an ‘Inspiring Minds, Unleashing Hearts’ institutional culture rooted in the Sisters of Divine Providence’s commitment to serving underserved populations.

OLLU is a strong choice for working professionals pursuing the CSWE-accredited online MSW with Hispanic concentration, Hispanic students who specifically value HSI mission and bilingual/bicultural institutional culture, Texas-region working professionals benefiting from regional employer networks, students drawn to the unique Literature/Creative Writing/Social Justice MA program, working social workers pursuing the online PhD in Social Work as a practitioner-scholar credential, or adult learners pursuing graduate business and technology programs at moderate cost ($991/credit graduate).

OLLU is a less strong choice for students prioritizing the lowest possible cost (SNHU and WGU produce lower total costs across most program areas), the broadest possible online catalog (SNHU and Liberty have substantially more program options), AACSB business school accreditation specifically (Sacred Heart, ASU W.P. Carey, Illinois iMBA, Indiana Kelley Direct provide AACSB alternatives), online clinical or counseling psychology doctoral training (APA accreditation requirements constrain online options; OLLU’s PsyD is residential), or the strongest possible institution-wide outcomes data (Sacred Heart’s 68 percent four-year graduation and $63,925 median earnings exceed OLLU’s 34 percent and $41,195).

The single most important practical step for any prospective OLLU Online student: identify whether your target program aligns with OLLU’s distinctive specializations (CSWE MSW with Hispanic focus, Literature/Social Justice MA, online PhD Social Work) or is a more general program available at many institutions. For students whose target program is one of OLLU’s specific strengths, the institution can be exceptionally well-positioned for their goals; for students whose target program is general business, IT, or education available at many institutions, the cost comparison against SNHU, WGU, Liberty, Capella, and similar alternatives is the more important decision factor.

For the broader framework on planning an online degree as a working adult, see: The Complete Guide to Earning an Accredited Online Degree as an Adult Learner.

For the most affordable online colleges available in 2026, see: 12 Most Affordable Online Colleges in 2026.