CSB and SJU set undergraduate enrollment records

09/13/2007

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, ranked nationally among the top liberal arts colleges, together enrolled a record 3,966 undergraduate students, which marked the second straight year total combined undergraduate enrollment has exceeded 3,900 students.

CSB’s enrollment is 2,049, its highest ever, while SJU has an enrollment of 1,917, its highest ever. With their combined enrollment, CSB and SJU have the largest enrollment of any national liberal arts college.

New-student enrollment totaled 537 at CSB and 515 at SJU for a combined class of 1,052, which is the third-highest new-student total ever.

The academic profile of the new class improved from last year’s entering class and is more racially and ethnically diverse. In total, American students of color and international students make up nearly 10 percent of the new entering class this fall.

“The class of 2011 is an exceptionally bright group of women and men who bring commitment, talent and passion to this community they will call home for the next four years. They will further develop their knowledge and skills for the good of the state and the world,” said Michael Thorp, CSB/SJU associate vice president and dean of admission and financial aid.

Overall retention of returning students from spring 2007 to fall 2007 was stable. In total, overall spring-to-fall retention (which measures the percentage of students who were eligible to return from spring 2007 to fall 2007) totaled 94 percent at CSB and SJU. Retention of students from the first year to the second year totaled 90 percent. Year-to-year retention rates at CSB and SJU are among the highest in the country.

Both institutions exceeded their new student, diversity and retention goals.