The University of Dallas was founded in 1956 as an independent Catholic university dedicated to excellence in its educational programs.

The University has three main components: Constantin College, which provides a highly acclaimed liberal arts education; the Braniff Graduate School, offering advanced degrees in the liberal arts; and the Graduate School of Management (GSM), which prepares masters level students for leadership roles in business, industry and the professions.

The Graduate School of Management is the largest MBA-granting institution in the Southwest. GSM was founded in 1966 with a distinctive mission: to create a professionally sound MBA program accessible to individuals who are already employed in business. Over 75 percent of GSM students work full-time. Students include Americans and those from over 50 countries.

The UD main campus is in Irving, adjacent to the thriving Las Colinas business community and near downtown Dallas and Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. GSM classes are also taught at satellite campuses in Plano, Richardson, and Fort Worth and through a wide range of distance learning programs.