Undergraduate Student Profile

Enrollment Trends

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University together enrolled 3,935 first-year to senior students in fall 2009. This marks the fourth straight year total combined undergraduate enrollment has exceeded 3,900. The schools' combined enrollment creates the largest undergraduate liberal arts college in the country. 

In addition, Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary enrolled 105 graduate students.

The mix of women and men generally has stayed within the range of 52%/48% in the last decade.  In fall 2009, Saint Benedict and Saint John’s together had a closer gender balance than most private colleges in the state.  In fall 2009, men made up just 43% of total undergraduate private college enrollment in Minnesota.  The enrollment gap between men and women at private colleges has been growing for more than a decade.

Total undergraduate enrollment has risen by 5% at CSB/SJU since fall 1999.  The colleges’ combined private college market share – approximately 10% in fall 2006 – has been stable for nearly a decade. In fall 2008, the College of Saint Benedict enrolled over 8% of all female private college students in the state, while Saint John’s University enrolled nearly 12% of all private college men. 

Enrollment Profile

In fall 2009, undergraduate students at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University enrolled students from 37 states and 46 countries. 

The five-state Upper Midwest region provided 91% of all Saint Benedict and Saint John's students. Students from outside of Minnesota comprised 20% of all CSB/SJU undergraduates.

International students make up 7% of all undergraduates – the highest percentage ever.  In fall 2008, Saint Benedict and Saint John’s enrolled fully 7% of international private college students in the state. International student enrollment has increased amongst Minnesota private colleges by 27% in the last ten years.

American students of color comprised 7% of all CSB/SJU undergraduates.  In fall 2009, the colleges had a total enrollment of 273 American students of color. 

First-year and second-year students at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University are required to live on-campus.  In fall 2009, fully three-quarters of all undergraduates live in college residence halls or apartments.  An additional 5% to 7% live in campus-sponsored housing while studying abroad.  

In fall 2009, 97% of all available housing spaces on both campuses were occupied.  As of fall 2008, the percentage of students living on-campus at CSB/SJU was significantly higher than the Minnesota private college average.