
St. Thomas University
U.S. News National 2027
#382
Up 13 from 2026
Acceptance rate
97.9%
2025
Peer median 77.2%
Tuition per year
$34,770
$47,980 with room and board
Peer median $29,155
Undergraduates
4,486
Student-faculty ratio 17:1
Peer median 14 : 1
Graduation rate
33.5%
4-year; 6-year rate 42.6%
Peer median 37.5%
“Peers” are the 30 closest-ranked private national universities, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.
About
St. Thomas University is a private, non-profit Catholic institution located in Miami Gardens, Florida. Rooted in Catholic heritage, the university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees across fields such as nursing, business, criminal justice, and law. In the 2027 US News Best Colleges rankings, St. Thomas University was ranked 382 among national universities. Its suburban South Florida campus serves a diverse student community with deep regional connections, particularly among Hispanic and Black students. Situated in the greater Miami metropolitan area, the university provides close geographic access to regional commercial, legal, and medical centers. For prospective students seeking an accessible private university in Florida with strong professional concentrations and a faith-based foundation, St. Thomas University provides a distinct regional option.
Evaluating St. Thomas University requires balancing published attendance costs against educational spending and degree completion. In 2025, undergraduate tuition was $34,770, which is higher than 70% of peer schools among private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. On the instructional side, estimates from 2024 indicate restrained educational spending per enrolled student. In terms of academic progress, degree completion remains modest. The four-year graduation rate reached 33.5% in 2025, while the six-year graduation rate stood at 42.6%. The gap between the four-year and six-year marks underscores that many students take longer to finish their degrees, and fewer than half ultimately graduate within six years. For families evaluating overall educational value, the combination of higher sticker tuition relative to peers and subdued completion rates suggests that prospective students should carefully examine available financial support and assess personal academic persistence before committing.
This collegeRanked colleges nearby
- Setting
- Suburb of a large city
- Nearest major city
- Miami, about 10 mi
- Nearest international airport
- Miami International Airport (MIA), about 9 mi
- Also known as
- St Thomas University Saint Thomas University Miami Catholic University
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Religious affiliation
- Roman Catholic
- President
- David A. Armstrong, J.D. (President)
- Phone
- 3056256000
- City
- Miami Gardens, Florida
- Address
- 16401 NW 37th Ave, Miami Gardens, FL 33054-6459
Rankings & Admission
Peer median 77.2% · the 30 closest-ranked private national universities
Acceptance rate by gender, 2025
In 2020: men 68.9%, women 44.0%.
Best #331, lowest #395, latest #382 over the last ten years.
Data insights
Admission to St. Thomas University is very accessible, as the university accepts nearly every applicant. In the 2027 USNews American University Rankings, the university placed at 382, declining from 331 in 2023. For the class entering in 2025, the undergraduate acceptance rate reached 97.9%, which is higher than 93% of peer schools among private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. This high rate indicates that academic barriers to entry are low. However, admitted applicants show modest inclination to enroll. The university recorded a yield rate of 10.5% in 2025, higher than 22% of peer schools in its comparison group. For students planning their college lists, these metrics show that securing an offer of admission is practically assured for qualified candidates, though the institution contends with competing choices when attempting to draw admitted students to campus.
School and Program Rankings
U.S. News school and program rankings · Click a school to see its programs, and a program for its full ranking
Undergraduate Rankings · 2027 edition
Graduate Rankings · 2026 edition
Law School12 programs#168▲10
- Legal Writing#127
- Contracts Law#131▲8
- Health Care Law#134▲23
- Trial Advocacy#135▼39
- Tax Law#145
- Clinical Training#147▲18
- International Law#164▼16
- Intellectual Property Law#166▼6
- Business/Corporate Law#167▼2
- Constitutional Law#172▼11
- Environmental Law#175▼19
- Criminal Law#180▼15
- Full Law School ranking ›
Ranks in blue are top 10 · ▲▼ change from the previous edition · “—” means no overall ranking for that school · Medical schools are ranked in tiers since the 2025 edition
Test Scores
SAT/ACT not considered, even if submitted IPEDS (US Department of Education) has no recent SAT/ACT data for admitted students here. GPA, course rigor, essays and activities matter more.
Data insights
St. Thomas University's admission test policy is not considered (test-blind), meaning test scores are not used even if submitted. Because examinations are completely excluded from review, applicants do not need to meet any SAT or ACT score benchmarks to gain admission, and scores sent to the university will not be evaluated. Historically, standardized test submission had already fallen significantly among enrolled cohorts before testing was excluded from consideration. In 2013, 57% of enrolled students submitted SAT scores, but by 2022, that share dropped to 24%. ACT submissions experienced a parallel downward trajectory, decreasing from 37% of enrolled students in 2013 to 9% in 2022. For prospective applicants, this test-blind policy means that standardized exam results will not impact an admissions decision, and candidate evaluations proceed without any standardized testing requirements.
How Hard Is It to Get In
about 10 in 10
7,095 applicants in 2025, 97.9% admitted
6,947 admitted 148 not admitted Yield 10.5%
Degrees & Majors
Graduates in 2025 (first major)
U.S. studentsInternational
Popular graduate programs
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse · Master's341 (0% international)
- Law · Doctoral202 (2% international)
- Business Administration and Management, General · Master's101 (17% international)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General · Master's71 (0% international)
- Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other · Master's35 (0% international)
- Educational Leadership and Administration, General · Doctoral32 (0% international)
Data insights
Undergraduate conferrals at St. Thomas University are concentrated in a handful of practical disciplines, with the top three bachelor's majors accounting for 55.9% of all undergraduate degrees in 2025. The single largest undergraduate program is Registered Nursing, which produced 156 graduates. The largest majors are not the institution's highest ranked, as the university does not hold top-ranked undergraduate majors, and its evaluated graduate law specialties all place outside national leadership tiers. International participation varies markedly across subjects; while international students accounted for 52% of graduates in general business administration and management, they represented a negligible share of nursing graduates. Based on 2023 earnings data, healthcare provides the strongest immediate financial return, with nursing graduates reporting median first-year earnings of $88,826. For applicants, these patterns indicate that degree offerings focus primarily on vocational preparation in health and business rather than broadly distributed academic specialties.
All majors, graduates and earnings IPEDS · College Scorecard
*Depends on whether majors have graduates in 2025 or not, Yes / No
**Move mouse on can check deitaled graudates number, click for major detailed information
***Due to privacy policy, graduate salaries are not shown for some majors that has few gradautes
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General. | - | |||
| Pre-Nursing Studies. | - | |||
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other. | - | |||
| Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse. | $88,826-$107,165 | |||
| Nursing Practice. | $88,826-$107,165 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | - | |||
| Business Administration and Management, General. | $52,410-$64,266 | |||
| Organizational Leadership. | $52,410-$64,266 | |||
| Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other. | $52,410-$64,266 | |||
| Accounting. | $72,775 | |||
| Finance, General. | - | |||
| International Business/Trade/Commerce. | - | |||
| Fashion Merchandising. | - | |||
| Telecommunications Management. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Law. | $64,322 | |||
| Legal Research and Advanced Professional Studies, Other. | $71,023 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Leadership and Administration, General. | $64,622-$86,675 | |||
| Higher Education/Higher Education Administration. | $64,622-$86,675 | |||
| Educational/Instructional Technology. | $75,032 | |||
| Elementary Education and Teaching. | - | |||
| Teacher Education, Multiple Levels. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | $40,067-$47,915 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied and Professional Ethics. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Informatics. | - | |||
| Computer Science. | - | |||
| Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | - | |||
| Research and Experimental Psychology, Other. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Political Science and Government, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theology/Theological Studies. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exercise Science and Kinesiology. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking and Related Culinary Arts, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Sciences. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master | Doctor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics, General. | - |
Students
7,652 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 49:51 · Freshman retention 56.6%
- Continuing undergraduates 1,206
- First-year undergraduates 720
- Graduate students 3,166
- Transfers and others 2,560
Undergraduate race and ethnicity (4,486)
Data insights
The student body at St. Thomas University is primarily composed of Hispanic and Black students, with modest representation from other backgrounds. In 2025, total enrollment reached 7,652 students across undergraduate and graduate levels. Among the freshman cohort, international students numbered 81, accounting for 11.2% of entering first-year undergraduates. In contrast, Asian student representation is very small across campus, with just 3 Asian students entering the freshman class, representing less than one percent of the group. At the graduate level, where students make up over two-fifths of total enrollment, Hispanic and Black learners form the predominant majority, while international and Asian students account for small single-digit proportions. This composition means prospective students will experience a campus environment heavily centered on domestic minority populations, with international peers concentrated mainly in specific degree programs.
The undergraduate population at St. Thomas University has an unusually young age profile. In 2025, out of 3,958 undergraduates, 47.4% were under 18 years old, totaling 1,876 students, while students aged 18 to 19 made up 22.4%. This heavy concentration of minors points to a significant presence of dual-enrollment high school students taking university courses. In contrast, the graduate division of 2,483 students reflects a mature profile typical of continuing education. The largest graduate group was aged 25 to 29 at 24.0%, followed closely by students in their early twenties and those in their forties. Campus life is therefore split between young dual-enrollment learners and working-age adult graduate students.
International Students
International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of the 30 closest-ranked private national universities
323 in 2025 · 5.3% in 2016
133 in 2025 · 9.0% in 2016
Data insights
International enrollment at St. Thomas University exhibits contrasting trends between undergraduate and graduate levels. Among undergraduates, the international share has expanded over time, reaching 7.2% in 2025. This proportion is higher than 83% of peer schools among private comprehensive universities with similar rankings. Conversely, the graduate international proportion has contracted over the past decade, declining to 4.2% in 2025. When examining degree completions, international graduates concentrate heavily in commercial and managerial disciplines rather than healthcare or education. At the undergraduate level, international students accounted for 52% of degree recipients in general business administration and management, whereas they represented less than one percent of nursing graduates. At the master's level, international representation is most visible in fields such as telecommunications management and business administration, while remaining negligible in nursing and educational leadership. Prospective international students will find an established presence in business fields, contrasted with limited international representation in clinical disciplines.
Cost
2025 cost per year
$47,980
- Undergraduate tuition
- $34,770
- Room and board
- $13,210
- Graduate tuition
- $12,440
Peer median tuition + room and board $40,554 · the 30 closest-ranked private national universities
Tuition rose 24% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 69%.
Finances · fiscal year 2024
Revenue$94.1M
Expenses$84.2M
Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)
Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at the 30 closest-ranked private national universities
Campus Life
Athletics and varsity athletes NAIA · The Sun Conference
The Sun Conference: football, basketball, baseball, cross country
| NAIA Division I | MEN | WOMEN |
|---|---|---|
| Track and Field and Cross Country (combined) | 111 | 46 |
| Football | 107 | - |
| Other Sports | 56 | 51 |
| Soccer | 48 | 52 |
| Swimming and Diving (combined) | 45 | 44 |
| Baseball | 39 | - |
| Tennis | 17 | 15 |
| Wrestling | 32 | - |
| Volleyball | 17 | 14 |
| Golf | 20 | 9 |
| Basketball | 14 | 13 |
| Softball | - | 27 |
| Lacrosse | - | 25 |
| Beach Volleyball | - | 15 |
| Bowling | - | 6 |
| NAIA Division I | MEN | WOMEN |
|---|---|---|
| Track and Field and Cross Country (combined) | 88 | 48 |
| Soccer | 60 | 56 |
| Other Sports | 51 | 61 |
| Football | 106 | - |
| Swimming | 35 | 36 |
| Wrestling | 48 | - |
| Tennis | 28 | 14 |
| Baseball | 41 | - |
| Basketball | 16 | 18 |
| Golf | 21 | 12 |
| Softball | - | 28 |
| Lacrosse | - | 26 |
| Beach Volleyball | - | 16 |
| Volleyball | - | 14 |
| Bowling | - | 6 |
| NAIA Division I | MEN | WOMEN |
|---|---|---|
| Track and Field and Cross Country (combined) | 72 | 53 |
| Football | 104 | - |
| Soccer | 45 | 51 |
| Swimming | 44 | 39 |
| Other Sports | 32 | 40 |
| Wrestling | 55 | - |
| Tennis | 31 | 18 |
| Baseball | 43 | - |
| Golf | 24 | 12 |
| Basketball | 18 | 16 |
| Softball | - | 32 |
| Volleyball | - | 24 |
| Lacrosse | - | 23 |
| Beach Volleyball | - | 14 |
| Bowling | - | 9 |
Nearby & Safety
Ranked colleges nearby
-
Nova Southeastern UniversityFort Lauderdale · 11.1 mi
U.S. News #250
-
Florida International UniversityMiami · 13.6 mi
U.S. News #100
-
University of MiamiCoral Gables · 14.0 mi
U.S. News #55
-
Florida Atlantic UniversityBoca Raton · 32.5 mi
U.S. News #191
-
Florida Institute of TechnologyMelbourne · 149.9 mi
U.S. News #236
-
University of Central FloridaOrlando · 194.1 mi
U.S. News #121
-
University of South Florida-Main CampusTampa · 198.8 mi
U.S. News #100
-
University of FloridaGainesville · 287.4 mi
U.S. News #34
Data insights
Families looking at St. Thomas University can also explore several other notable institutions in the surrounding South Florida region. Located 11.1 kilometers away, Nova Southeastern University is a private national university ranked 250 in the 2027 US News rankings. For those interested in large public institutions, Florida International University is situated 13.6 kilometers away and holds a rank of 100 among national universities. In addition, the University of Miami is located 14 kilometers from campus, holding a 2027 national university rank of 55. A fourth nearby option is Florida Atlantic University, a public institution located 32.5 kilometers away and ranked 191. These neighboring colleges offer applicants alternative educational formats and campus settings within easy driving distance of Miami Gardens.
Peer median 2.7 · the 30 closest-ranked private national universities
Incidents, 2023–2025
From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.
Data insights
Campus safety at St. Thomas University is primarily characterized by internal behavioral infractions rather than violent crime. In 2025, the campus crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 3. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, recorded incidents were heavily concentrated in substance-related conduct violations. Specifically, the university documented 88 disciplinary referrals for liquor violations and 81 disciplinary referrals for drug violations across those years. In contrast, serious offenses occurred infrequently over the same period, with 5 reported assaults alongside low single-digit occurrences of motor vehicle theft and weapons referrals. These statistics indicate that physical safety risks from severe criminal acts remain low, while the vast majority of official reports reflect administrative action for alcohol and drug policy noncompliance. Prospective students can anticipate a campus environment where safety management revolves primarily around upholding standard residential and conduct codes.
Notable Alumni
Notable alumni of St. Thomas University include William Levy (Cuban-American actor and former model), Laurent Lamothe (Former Prime Minister of Haiti, entrepreneur) and Stan Van Gundy (Basketball coach and television commentator).
-
William Levy 1980–
Cuban-American actor and former model
-
Laurent Lamothe 1972–
Former Prime Minister of Haiti, entrepreneur
-
Stan Van Gundy 1959–
Basketball coach and television commentator
-
Mike Fitzpatrick 1963–2020
Former US representative from Pennsylvania
-
Salvador Miranda 1939–2024
Bibliographer, librarian and church historian
-
Agustin Roman 1928–2012
Cuban-born auxiliary bishop of Miami
-
Al Avila 1959–
Former Detroit Tigers general manager
-
José R. Oliva 1973–
Former Florida state representative
-
Kiko Calero 1975–
Puerto Rican former MLB relief pitcher
More alumni (13, by field)
Politics and law
-
Frank Artiles 1973–
Florida Republican politician and state senator
-
John Quiñones 1965–
Former Florida state representative
-
Sharon Pritchett 1951–
Former Florida state representative
-
Tien Chung-kwang
Former Taiwanese deputy foreign minister
-
Jorge Rodriguez-Chomat 1945–2017
Florida state legislator and judge
-
Alex Penelas 1961–
Former mayor of Miami-Dade County
-
Ervin A. Gonzalez 1960–2017
Civil trial attorney
-
Manny Díaz, Jr. 1973–
Politician and president of University of West Florida
-
Cynthia Stafford 1967–
Former member of the Florida House of Representatives
Arts and media
-
Dom Irrera 1947–
Actor and stand-up comedian
Sports
-
Shanoska Young 1989–
Jamaican women's national team footballer
-
Paul Mainieri 1957–
Former college baseball coach
-
Connie Yori 1963–
Former Nebraska women's basketball head coach
From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.
Recent News at St. Thomas University
Summarized daily from the school's official news. Click "Source" for the original story.
-
JetBlue Airways named St. Thomas University one of its preferred university partners, offering travel benefits and discounts for STU athletic teams and group travel for academic and experiential learning programs.
Source: stu.edu
No updates on this topic in this month.
References and Data Sources
- St. Thomas University Official Website
- USNews Best Colleges Ranking
- USNews Bset Global Universities Ranking
- THE World University Ranking
- QS World University Ranking
- ARWU World University Ranking
- US Department of Education College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- Forward Pathway US College Ranking Database
Data from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education), U.S. News, THE, QS, ARWU and Clery Act campus safety reports. Data insights are written by the Forward Pathway data team from public data.