Corita graduated from Immaculate Heart College in 1941.

In 1945, she was sent to teach grade school in British Columbia, but was brought back to Immaculate Heart College in 1947 to teach art.

In 1951, she received a master 's degree in art history from the University of Southern California; it is also the year she exhibited her first silkscreen print.

In 1952, Corita 's print, "the lord is with thee won" first place in printmaking at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and also at the California State Fair.