• Strategic Directions 2015
• CSB/SJU Fact Book
  • Admission and New Entering Student Profile
  • Undergraduate Student Profile
  • Undergraduate Academic and Instructional Profile
  • Alumnae and Alumni Profile
  • Financial Profile
  • Minnesota Private College Comparison
• National Survey of Student Engagement
• Trends Newsletter
• Policies and Procedure Manual
• Reports: IPR Intranet

Admission and New Entering Student Profile

Admission Activity

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University together received more than 3,200 applications for admission in fall 2010 (1,717 at CSB and 1,516 at SJU).  Applications for admission have exceeded 3,000 every year since 2007.

Acceptance rates have declined significantly at both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's since 2006, falling from 89% to 80% at CSB and from 86% to 80% 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 2010, 41% 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 35%.

First-time new entering student enrollment totaled 535 at CSB and 503 at SJU in fall 2010, a combined total 5% higher than the previous year.  Only one private college in Minnesota enrolls more new entering students each year than CSB and SJU.

CSB and SJU historically have been more successful than most private colleges managing the balance between female and male enrollment.  In fall 2010, the female-to-male balance among new entering students was 52:48, compared to 58:42 among all new entering private college students in Minnesota.

New Student Characteristics

Each year, new entering students make up approximately 25% of all undergraduate students at both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University.  The level of academic achievement of new students has increased significantly in the last decade. 

At the College of Saint Benedict, the mean ACT score of new students averaged nearly 26 in fall 2010, placing new CSB students among the top 15% of all test-takers nationally.  1 in 4 new CSB students reported ACT scores in the top 5% of all test-takers nationally.  The average high school grade point average of new CSB students in fall 2010 totaled 3.71.  Nearly 20% of new CSB students reported high school grade averages of 4.0, and more than one-third had grade point averages of 3.9 or higher.  40% of all new CSB students graduated from high school in the top 10% of their class, and 75% finished in the top 25%.

At Saint John's University, the mean ACT score of new students also averaged nearly 26 in fall 2010.  More than one-quarter of all new SJU students reported ACT scores in the top 5% nationally.  Approximately 11% of all new Saint John's University students reported high school grade point averages of 4.0, and 18% had grade averages of 3.9 or higher.  The average high school grade point average of new SJU students in fall 2010 totaled 3.53.  The average new SJU student finished high school in the top 25% of his class.

Together, the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University enrolled new students from 29 states and 15 foreign countries in fall 2010.  Students from Minnesota made up about three-quarters of all new students at both institutions.  International students comprised approximately 5% of total new student enrollment at CSB and SJU - a share nearly twice the average for all of Minnesota's other 15 private colleges.  Enrollment of international students has grown significantly since 2006.

In fall 2010, CSB enrolled 64 new entering students of color and SJU 49 new students of color, the highest number in each college's history.  Enrollment of new students of color has increase by 77% at CSB and by 88% at SJU since 2006.