Points of Distinction

We provide a nationally-leading residential liberal arts experience enlivened by Catholic and Benedictine tradition and values.

Engaged, Global, Community

A Unique Partnership of Two Nationally-Leading Liberal Arts Colleges

• Our partnership of two nationally leading institutions gives students the educational opportunities and choices of a large university and the individual attention and community of a premier small college experience.
• We provide students access to the resources of not one, but two nationally leading liberal arts colleges through a common undergraduate curriculum, identical degree requirements, and a single academic calendar.  Our 3,900 students attend all classes and activities together on two campuses.
• We are committed to the development of the whole person, meeting the unique needs of both women and men in single-gender and co-educational experiences – experiences that could not be provided by traditional single-sex colleges and would not typically be provided by co-educational colleges.

A Learning Experience Enlivened by Catholic and Benedictine Tradition

• The colleges are part of a centuries-old Benedictine tradition of faith, learning, and community.
• Hospitality, community, stewardship and service to the common good are bedrock values expressed throughout the curriculum and the co-curriculum.
• We are part of a Catholic intellectual tradition committed to openness, intellectual inquiry, and the lively engagement of faith and reason.
• Our values have been shaped, and our history influenced, by a commitment to ecumenism and inter-faith dialogue.

Preparation for Leadership and Service in a Global Society

• The colleges are committed to global learning and connection – a commitment that extends across all four years of colleges and to experiences inside and outside of the classroom.
• We provide international study programs on six continents and are ranked third among baccalaureate colleges nationally in the number of students who study abroad.  More than half of all students study abroad before they graduate – an international study participation rate significantly higher than the national average for liberal arts colleges. 
• More than 200 academic courses have an international component or global emphasis.  One-third of our faculty has led a study abroad program.
• We enroll nearly 150 students from more than 30 countries, creating an enriching and culturally diverse global experience on campus.  CSB/SJU rank second among Minnesota’s private colleges for the number of undergraduate international students.

A Unique Sense of Place

• Our two campuses are located in a remarkable setting of 3,200 acres of woods, lakes, and prairie – providing our students with unique opportunities for education, recreation, and reflection.
• There is a compelling sense of community that shapes the undergraduate experience and creates a lifelong network of alumni/ae connection.
• Nearly all students live on-campus or in the immediate campus neighborhood, providing them with opportunities for a highly engaged learning experience.   
• Our students seek and discover an engaging and integrated learning experience.  Nearly all of them complete an internship, participate in undergraduate student research, study abroad, participate in community service, or participate regularly in student government, student clubs, campus publications, or other student organizations.

A Living Heritage of Arts and Culture

• Our commitment to arts and culture dates to our founding monastic communities.  We support a vibrant performing and visual arts program attracting national and international talent to the campuses and the region.
• The Benedicta Arts Center at the College of Saint Benedict is the largest performing arts center in Greater Minnesota and one of the finest centers in the region.  The college routinely commissions new performance works with national and internationally reputed companies.
• Saint John’s University is home to the Saint John’s Bible and a remarkable collection of religious sculpture, paintings, prints, and artifacts.  The Hill Museum and Manuscript Library is internationally reputed for preservation and study of manuscripts of great importance to Christian history and culture.

Our offices:
College of Saint Benedict, Main G20,
320-363-5407, 320-363-5136 (fax)
Saint John's University, Quad 151,
320-363-2594, 320-363-2016 (fax)