About Saint Johns University
Saint John's University operates as an all-male Benedictine Catholic institution that maintains a unique coordinate relationship with the nearby College of Saint Benedict. The school enrolls 1,468 students on a rural campus in central Minnesota, focusing on liberal arts education rooted in monastic traditions. Students benefit from small class sizes with a 12:1 student-faculty ratio. The Benedictine emphasis on community, prayer, and intellectual inquiry shapes daily life here.
Families pay an average net price of $27,018 after financial aid, making this expensive private education more accessible than the $67,072 sticker price suggests. Graduates earn a median of $76,786 ten years after graduation, which helps justify the typical $27,000 in student debt. The monthly loan payment of $286 becomes manageable given strong career outcomes. An 86% acceptance rate means most applicants gain admission, but the 76% graduation rate shows the academic rigor that follows.
The all-male environment creates a distinctive college experience increasingly rare in higher education. Students come primarily from Minnesota, with 80% arriving from in-state. The campus houses 1,555 students in residence halls that foster the close-knit community central to Benedictine life. A 97% employment rate demonstrates the value employers place on graduates from this traditional liberal arts program.
Families pay an average net price of $27,018 after financial aid, making this expensive private education more accessible than the $67,072 sticker price suggests. Graduates earn a median of $76,786 ten years after graduation, which helps justify the typical $27,000 in student debt. The monthly loan payment of $286 becomes manageable given strong career outcomes. An 86% acceptance rate means most applicants gain admission, but the 76% graduation rate shows the academic rigor that follows.
The all-male environment creates a distinctive college experience increasingly rare in higher education. Students come primarily from Minnesota, with 80% arriving from in-state. The campus houses 1,555 students in residence halls that foster the close-knit community central to Benedictine life. A 97% employment rate demonstrates the value employers place on graduates from this traditional liberal arts program.
Academics & Faculty
Saint John's University delivers a Benedictine Catholic liberal arts education that emphasizes broad intellectual exploration across disciplines. The 12:1 student-faculty ratio ensures close mentoring relationships that help explain the solid 76% graduation rate. Students work closely with professors in small seminars rather than large lecture halls. The theology and philosophy programs reflect the school's Catholic identity, while the business and psychology departments attract many students. Liberal arts education here means studying everything from literature to science to develop critical thinking skills. The monastery setting creates a contemplative academic environment where students engage deeply with big questions about purpose and meaning.
Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education
- Student-to-Faculty Ratio
- 12:1
- Full-Time Faculty
- 84.3%
- Graduation Rate (4-year)
- 75.7%
- Graduation Rate (6-year)
- 75.7%
- Retention Rate
- 83.0%
- Median Earnings (10 years)
- $76,786
- Carnegie Classification
- Liberal Arts College
Popular Programs by Earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science. | Bachelor | $68,778 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $57,589 |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $55,151 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $52,789 |
| Theological and Ministerial Studies. | Master | $52,289 |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics. | Bachelor | $48,849 |
| Political Science and Government. | Bachelor | $39,369 |
| Psychology, General. | Bachelor | $37,748 |
| Biology, General. | Bachelor | $28,598 |
Campus Life
Saint John's sits on 2,700 acres of Minnesota wilderness, an hour northwest of Minneapolis. The all-male student body of 1,468 shares campus with the College of Saint Benedict through a unique coordinate relationship that dates back to 1963. With housing capacity for 1,555 students, nearly all undergraduates live on campus in residence halls that foster the Benedictine community spirit.
Winter dominates the academic year with temperatures often below freezing from November through March. Students embrace the cold through ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and hockey games. The 83% retention rate reflects strong bonds formed in this tight-knit environment. Weekends revolve around the natural setting, with students hiking the campus trails or taking boats out on nearby Sagatagan Lake. The monastery bells mark daily rhythms, while evening prayer remains optional but well-attended. With 100% of students being male, social life extends to Saint Benedict's campus just four miles away, where joint classes, dining, and social events create an integrated educational experience despite the single-gender housing.
Winter dominates the academic year with temperatures often below freezing from November through March. Students embrace the cold through ice fishing, cross-country skiing, and hockey games. The 83% retention rate reflects strong bonds formed in this tight-knit environment. Weekends revolve around the natural setting, with students hiking the campus trails or taking boats out on nearby Sagatagan Lake. The monastery bells mark daily rhythms, while evening prayer remains optional but well-attended. With 100% of students being male, social life extends to Saint Benedict's campus just four miles away, where joint classes, dining, and social events create an integrated educational experience despite the single-gender housing.
- Setting
- Rural-Fringe
- Housing Capacity
- 1,555 beds
- Calendar System
- Semester
- Study Abroad
- Available
Campus Safety (2023)
10 total reported incidents. Source: Clery Act / U.S. Department of Education
| Offense | On Campus | Residential | Noncampus | Public Property |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Burglary | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fondling | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dating Violence | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rape | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Stalking | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Climate & Weather
- January Avg
- 3°–20°F
- July Avg
- 60°–80°F
- Annual Precipitation
- 31.0"
- Annual Snowfall
- 57.4"
Student Demographics
This all-male Catholic institution draws primarily from Minnesota families who value Benedictine education. Nearly 80% of students come from in-state, reflecting strong regional loyalty to the liberal arts tradition. The student body is predominantly white at 80%, though diversity is growing with Hispanic and Black students making up 12% combined. Students typically come from middle to upper-middle class backgrounds, with only 18% receiving Pell Grants. The men here choose Saint John's for its monastic-inspired community and coordinate relationship with the College of Saint Benedict.
- Men
- 100.0%
- Women
- 0.0%
- White
- 79.6%
- Black
- 4.4%
- Hispanic
- 7.7%
- Asian
- 3.5%
- In-State Students
- 80.0%
- Pell Grant Recipients
- 18.1%
Location
Saint John's University sits in Collegeville, Minnesota, about 75 miles northwest of Minneapolis-Saint Paul. The 2,700-acre campus sprawls across central Minnesota's lake country, where Benedictine monks have lived and taught since 1856. Students find themselves surrounded by prairie, woodlands, and more than 100 lakes within a few miles of campus. The rural setting means the nearest town, Saint Cloud, sits 15 miles away with just 68,000 residents. This isolation creates an intentionally contemplative environment where the 1,468 students focus on academics and spiritual growth. The coordinate relationship with nearby College of Saint Benedict adds social opportunities while maintaining the all-male tradition. Students considering colleges in Minnesota may also compare Saint John's University with similar schools in the region.
- Address
- Collegeville, Minnesota 56321
After College
Source: College Scorecard / U.S. Department of Education
- Median Earnings (10 years)
- $76,786
- Median Earnings (5 years)
- $71,478
- Mean Earnings (6 years after entry)
- $49,600
- Loan Repayment Rate
- 85.9%
- Monthly Loan Payment
- $286/mo
- Median Debt at Graduation
- $27,000
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Johns University?
Saint Johns University accepts 86.24% of applicants with an average SAT score of 1050. The all-male Benedictine college maintains accessible admissions while upholding its tradition of Catholic liberal arts education.
How much does Saint Johns University cost after financial aid?
Students pay an average net price of $27,018 despite the $53,942 sticker price. The school offers institutional grants averaging $36,295 to nearly 28% of students, making the Catholic education more affordable.
What is the student-faculty ratio at Saint Johns University?
Saint Johns maintains a 12:1 student-faculty ratio across its 1,468 enrolled students. The small class sizes support the Benedictine emphasis on mentorship and personalized learning in the liberal arts tradition.
What are the career outcomes for Saint Johns University graduates?
Graduates earn a median salary of $76,786 ten years after graduation with a 96.8% employment rate. Alumni typically carry $27,000 in debt with monthly payments of $286, reflecting solid return on investment.
Where is Saint Johns University located and what is campus life like?
The campus sits in rural Collegeville, Minnesota with housing capacity for 1,555 students. Nearly 80% of students come from Minnesota, creating a tight-knit community rooted in Benedictine values and traditions.
Is Saint Johns University really an all-male school?
Yes, Saint Johns enrolls 100% male students as part of its coordinate relationship with the College of Saint Benedict for women. This unique partnership allows for single-gender education while sharing resources and some classes between the two Catholic institutions.
