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College of Saint Benedict

Saint Joseph , MN

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) is a private, liberal arts college for women located in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Founded in 1913, CSB is a sister school to Saint John's University, a men's college located nearby. The college offers a wide range of undergraduate programs in diverse fields including arts and humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and professional programs. CSB is known for providing a holistic education that promotes intellectual and personal development, fostering a strong sense of community, and preparing graduates for successful careers and meaningful contributions to society.

At CSB, students benefit from small class sizes and personalized attention from highly qualified faculty members who are dedicated to teaching and mentorship. The college's curriculum focuses on interdisciplinary learning, critical thinking, and global perspectives. Students have the opportunity to engage in hands-on learning through internships, research projects, and study abroad programs, broadening their understanding of the world and acquiring valuable skills that will benefit them in their future careers.

Apart from academic pursuits, CSB offers a vibrant campus life with a variety of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations. Students can participate in the visual and performing arts, community service initiatives, and athletic programs. CSB is a NCAA Division III school and competes in intercollegiate sports as part of the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The college also emphasizes the importance of values-based education and spiritual growth, providing opportunities for religious and faith-based activities and reflection.

Overall, the College of Saint Benedict offers a nurturing environment that encourages intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and the development of leadership qualities. With its commitment to academic excellence, experiential learning, and a strong community spirit, CSB equips its students with the knowledge, skills, and values necessary to thrive in an ever-changing world.

College of Saint Benedict is a private four-year college located in Saint Joseph, MN. This educational institution operates on a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 88%. The freshman retention rate at College of Saint Benedict is 86.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 77%.

For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is August 15. The transfer application deadline is July 1.

To find out more about what College of Saint Benedict has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.

Quick Facts

1,391

Total Number of Undergraduate Students

$56,450

Tuition

12:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

77%

Graduation Rate

Admissions

If you know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission, you can make a better judgment about your eligibility and boost your chances of getting accepted. Here are the most essential facts you need to know about admission policy and requirements at College of Saint Benedict.

According to the most recent information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 1,684 in 2025.

Test Scores

4.5% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 44.4% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 35.29% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between between 1,200 and 1,399, 52.94% between 1,000 and 1,199, 5.88% between 800 and 999, and 5.88% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of freshman students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 12.65, 35.54 between 24-29, 44.58 in the range between 18-23, and 7.23 between 12-17.

The average ACT score for all the enrolled students in 2025 was 23 and the average GPA was 3.69. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into College of Saint Benedict; the same goes for your ACT score.

The SAT Critical Reading average score was 620 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 530.

Average Test Scores

Deadlines

Be sure to apply to this school by August 15. For transfer students, the application deadline is July 1.

Retention Rate

The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university newcomers who return for their sophomore year. When creating your list of possible schools to attend, you should consider the freshman retention rate, among other things.

The freshman retention rate for College of Saint Benedict was 86.3% in 2025, indicative of the exceptional educational experience and supportive environment at this school.

The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. The six-year graduation rate at this institution stands at 77%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.

Student Body

Picking a school that is the best match for you is not a simple task. Knowing more about the student population can help you get a better understanding of the school's culture and life.

Main Student Body

In 2025, the institution enrolled 1,429 students.

That year, the school had 10.3% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,391, 50 of which were foreign students. The school reported to have a total of 21 transfer students.

Student Population Diversity

When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.

This school had 43 Asian students and 31 Afro-American students in 2025. 143 undergraduates at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1 identified with more than one race. The school also had 2 students who declared as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 15 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 51 students whose ethnicity is unknown.

Cost

One of the most crucial things to take into consideration when applying to any college or university is the financial component. Here are some details you should know about the cost of attendance for College of Saint Benedict.

Tuition and Fees

Here are some numbers that can help you better understand the estimated tuition price for this university.

As a full-time domestic student, you were required to pay tuition of $56,450 in 2025. College of Saint Benedict is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students summed up to $1,248 in 2025.

Books and Supplies

The approximate cost of books and supplies for a college or university should also be taken into account as another significant financial element. Most students have to allocate about $1,000 for books and supplies during their time at College of Saint Benedict.

Boarding

The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What is the typical amount colleges and universities charge for room and board?

In 2025, room and board cost at College of Saint Benedict amounted to $13,670 a year. If you only wanted a room on the campus, it cost $7,050 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $6,750.

Tuition $ 56,450
Room and Board $ 13,670
Book and Supplies $ 1,000
Total Expense $ 71,120

Financial Aid

There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. Check out some recent data to get the info about need-based and non-need-based aid at College of Saint Benedict.

The most recent records show that 255 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average financial aid package awarded to students amounted to $50,778.

Need-based

Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.

874 students received some form of need-based financial aid. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at College of Saint Benedict is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 874. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution summed up to $2,485,933, and state $2,320,360. The students of College of Saint Benedict received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $28,514,357, and external in the amount of $426,718.

$31,074

Average Amount of Aid Received

Non-Need Based

Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. The most popular forms of non-need-based financial aid for students are loans and grants, like Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.

240 students, including freshmen, were awarded institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 72 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $17,539,792. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,439,993 USD.

Majors

Faculty

12:1

Student to Faculty Ratio

The student-to-faculty ratio can tell you a lot about the teaching resources a school provides for its students.

According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at College of Saint Benedict was 12:1: that means 12 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 131 teachers at this school. This number included 84 men and 47 women.

Student Population Diversity Graph

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Campus Life

Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about students' life at College of Saint Benedict.

Its campus spans 300 acres.

Student Organizations

Participating in different student organizations can make your educational experience more interesting and fulfilling.

According to the most recent information, there are 92 open-membership organizations at College of Saint Benedict. The student organization that attracts the greatest number of students is Entrepreneurship Club, followed by Magis Ministries and Art Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Archipelago Caribbean Association (ACA) and Exploring Latin American Cultures (ELAC).

There is a drama club you can join if acting is something that interests you. You have a talent for media and communication? College of Saint Benedict publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.

Student Services

At College of Saint Benedict, there are many amenities that make life on campus comfortable and safe.

There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances are electronically operated. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The after-hours transportation/escort service is available.

This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at College of Saint Benedict is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.

Career Services

Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at College of Saint Benedict.

Career Counselling

At College of Saint Benedict, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.

FAQ

College of Saint Benedict is located in Saint Joseph, MN.

College of Saint Benedict offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.

The overall full-time tuition per academic year for College of Saint Benedict is 56,450 USD, based on the most recent data.

This school uses standardized test scores for admission.

The most recent reported acceptance rate for College of Saint Benedict is 88%.

The most recent reported freshman retention rate for College of Saint Benedict is 86.3%.

Contact Information

College of Saint Benedict

37 College Avenue South

Saint Joseph , MN

56374

320 363-5011

School Website

Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.

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