Admission and New Entering Student Profile

Admission Activity

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University together received more than 3,600 applications for admission in fall 2011 (1,972 at CSB and 1,647 at SJU). Applications for admission have exceeded 3,000 every year since 2007.

As applications have increased, the acceptance rate has fallen. Acceptance rates for fall 2011 declined significantly at both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University compared to the prior year, falling from 81% to 73% at CSB and from 81% to 74% at SJU.

Yield rates at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University historically have been significantly higher than national and regional averages. In fall 2011, 36% of all CSB applicants accepted for admission and 40% of all SJU admission applicants ultimately enrolled. Among Minnesota's private colleges, yield rates averaged just 31%.

First-time new entering student enrollment totaled 525 at CSB and 494 at SJU in fall 2011, resulting in a slight decline from fall 2010 enrollments. CSB and SJU historically have been more successful than most private colleges managing the balance between female and male enrollment. In fall 2011, the female-to-male balance among new entering students was 52:48, compared to 59:41 among all new entering private college students in Minnesota.

New Student Characteristics

The mean ACT college entrance exam score among first-time, new entering CSB students in fall 2011 was 25.6, a composite average that has changed little since 2007. The average ACT score placed new Saint Benedict students among the top 15% of all test-takers nationally. More than one in five new CSB students this fall (21%) reported ACT scores in the top 5% of all test-takers nationally (equivalent to scores of 29 or higher). Almost 20% of all new CSB students reported high school grade point averages of 4.0, and more than one-third had grade point averages of 3.9 or higher.

The mean ACT college entrance exam score among new entering SJU students was 25.6, slightly below the fall 2010 average but similar to averages since 2007. The average ACT score placed new Saint John's students among the top 15% of all test-takers nationally. More than one-quarter (26%) of all new SJU students this fall reported ACT scores in the top 5% nationally. Approximately 12% of all new SJU students reported high school grade point averages of 4.0, and 1 in 5 had grade point averages of 3.9 or higher.

Together, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University enrolled new students from 28 states and 16 foreign countries in fall 2011. Students from Minnesota made up more than three-quarters of all new students at both institutions. International students comprised approximately 5% of total new student enrollment at CSB and SJU.

In fall 2011, American students of color made up 12% of all new CSB and SJU students (exluding international students), meeting the Strategic Directions 2015 goal. The number and proportion of new entering students of color has increased nearly continuously at both institutions since fall 2003.