St. Xavier's College, Ranchi is a Minority Educational Institution based on religion which is established and maintained by the Ranchi Jesuit Province of the Society of Jesus. The College is registered by the Ranchi Province under the local title 'Xavier's Ranchi' under the Society's Registration Act XXI of 1860.

The Society of Jesus is a Christian Religious Order founded by St. Ignatius Loyolo in 1540. Since its foundation, the Jesuit Order, inspired by a Gospel vision of human beings and their destiny, has contributed to the Christian service of education throughout the world . This vision drawn from the life and teachings of Jesus Chirst gives Jesuit educational institutions a recognizable character and sets before their management, staff, students, parents and the community high ideals of life and service which will inspire them continuously to strive to meet the emerging needs and challenges. St. Xavier’s College is an educational institution, which strives to prepare men and women who will build a more just and humane world. It strives to attain an intellectual endeavour that focuses on critical and creative thinking, with the aim of social transformation. The College makes a preferential option for the marginalised mass and it seeks to give an all round formation, inculcating both human and spiritual values. Competence, compassion and commitment are the hallmarks of a human person we seek to encourage.

St. Francis Xavier

St. Xavier's College, Ranchi, is named after St. Francis Xavier, one of the founding members of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. A Jesuit saint of the 16th Century who travelled to India, Francis Xavier, born Francisco de Jasso y Azpilicueta (7 April 1506 – 3 December 1552) was a pioneering Roman Catholic missionary born in the Kingdom of Navarre (currently Spain-France) and co-founder of the Society of Jesus. He was a student of Saint Ignatius of Loyola and one of the first seven Jesuits, dedicated at Montmartre in 1534. He led an extensive mission into Asia, mainly in the Portuguese Empire of the time. He was influential in the spreading and upkeep of Catholicism most notably in India, but also ventured into Japan, Borneo, the Moluccas, and other areas which had thus far not been visited by Christian missionaries.