CSB and SJU report strong enrollment numbers

09/10/2009

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University together enrolled 3,935 students, which marked the fourth straight year total combined undergraduate enrollment has exceeded 3,900 students.

It is the third largest combined enrollment at CSB and SJU, behind only 2007 (3,966 students) and 2008 (3,965).

CSB’s enrollment is 2,058, its second-highest enrollment, trailing only 2008 (2,068 students). SJU has an enrollment of 1,877.

New student enrollment totaled 551 at CSB and 461 at SJU for a combined first-year class of 1,012. It is the fourth time in five years that first-year enrollment has surpassed 1,000 students.

The academic profile (GPA, ACT score and class standing) of the new class is nearly identical to last year and is more racially and ethnically diverse. American students of color made up 6.7 percent of the overall student population and 9.9 percent of the new entering class; both are high water marks for the schools. International students made up 6.2 percent of the overall student population and 7.2 percent of the new entering class; both marks are the highest in school history.

"We are absolutely delighted with the entering class at both the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University,” said Cal Mosley, vice president for admission and financial aid at CSB and SJU. “This group brings to the college community a depth and breadth of human characteristics that is unparalleled in recent years.  By way of illustration, we have our largest number of National Merit Scholars, students of color, international students, students from outside Minnesota, and an increase in students from Catholic high schools and CSB/SJU legacies."

The overall retention of continuing students remained very high. Retention of students from the first year to the second year totaled 89 percent, a rate that continues to rank among the highest in the country.