St. Xavier`s College in Mumbai, India, is one of the most prestigious liberal arts colleges in India and has been awarded the highest rating, A+ (5-Star), in the re-accreditation by the National Assessment and accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2006. The college is named after Francis Xaviers, the 16th-century Spanish Jesuit saint. Its campus in South Mumbai is built in the Indo -Gothic style of architecture, and recognized as a heritage structure.
The college was founded by German Jesuits in 1869. It began to develop rapidly from 1884 to 1910. The imprisonment of German Jesuit priests during the First World War (1914-1918) led to a dislocation of the administration, which was mitigated by the appointment other European Jesuits. Though it began as an Arts College, by the 1920s science departments were established. The college was greatly expanded in the 1930s.
The college is run by Indian Jesuits, with special consideration to Roman Catholic students. It offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Arts, Science and Commerce. It has spawned several research institutions within its campus including the Blatter Harberium, and is known for its inter-collegiate youth festival Malhar. In the June 2006 issue of the country`s national India Today magazine, it was rated as the best college in India for Arts