For its first three years, classes were held in two rooms of the old St. Marguerite’s School, located on the grounds of what is now Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. Bishop McMullen died in 1883, and Reverend “A.J.” Aloysius Schulte was named the first president of St. Ambrose at the age of 23.
The school was moved to Locust Street in 1885, where the central part of the present-day Ambrose Hall was built. Located in a secluded grove of oak trees, the site was far removed from the city. That same year, St. Ambrose was incorporated as “a literary, scientific and religious institution.” The articles of incorporation stated, “No particular religious faith shall be required of any person to entitle him to admission to said seminary.”
圣安布罗斯成立于 1882 年，是一所面向年轻男子的神学院和商学院，被称为圣安布罗斯学院。它的开始归功于达文波特的第一任主教，最可敬的约翰麦克马伦，DD，他在达文波特教区的主持下创立了它。今天，这种联系仍然很牢固。
在最初的三年里，课程是在旧的圣玛格丽特学校的两个房间里进行的，该学校位于现在的达文波特圣心大教堂。麦克马伦主教于 1883 年去世，牧师“A.J.”阿洛伊修斯·舒尔特 (Aloysius Schulte) 在 23 岁时被任命为圣安布罗斯的第一任总统。
1885 年，学校搬到了蝗虫街，在那里建造了今天的安布罗斯大厅的中心部分。该地点位于一片僻静的橡树林中，远离城市。同年，圣安布罗斯被合并为“一个文学、科学和宗教机构”。公司章程规定：“任何人不得要求任何特定的宗教信仰，才能使他有资格进入上述神学院。”
