About the College of Saint Benedict

The College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn., was founded by Benedictine Sisters in 1913—women creating a liberal arts college specifically for women. It was one of the first undergraduate women’s colleges established in the upper Midwest and the 13th in the nation. Today, the College of Saint Benedict is the only Catholic women’s college ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the U.S.

Since its beginning nearly a century ago, the College of Saint Benedict has been guided by the belief that a residential, liberal arts education, informed by Catholic Benedictine values, has a powerful ability to transform young women’s lives. Our goal is to enable every individual to achieve her own personal excellence, developing her intellectual, spiritual, emotional and physical qualities to their fullest potential. To this end, we provide a true community in which individuals learn how to live with each other, contribute to the community both as leaders and as members, and draw on the ethical and moral strength of others and themselves. Our graduates prepare for fulfilling lives of disciplined inquiry and leadership in careers devoted to the professions, public life and service to others.