The school was established as the College of Steubenville in 1946 by the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular at the request of Bishop Mussio, the first bishop of the Diocese of Steubenville. In 1974, Fr. Michael Scanlan, T.O.R., became President and began a series of major reforms to restore the school to its Catholic heritage. The school changed its name to the University of Steubenville upon achieving university status in 1980, and adopted the current title Franciscan University of Steubenville in 1986.