The College of Saint Scholastica

Admissions at the College of St. Scholastica are highly accessible, with the college accepting nearly all applicants. In the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, the university held rank 254 in 2020 and placed at 283 in 2026. For the entering class of 2025, the overall acceptance rate was 93%, which is higher than 88% of peer private comprehensive universities. However, the pull of the institution among admitted students remains modest. The yield rate in 2025 stood at 16.9%, meaning only a small fraction of those offered admission chose to enroll, although this yield is higher than 53% of peer private comprehensive universities. For prospective applicants, these figures demonstrate that gaining entry into the college is very attainable, as admissions standards admit the vast majority of applicants, even while the institution's position on national ranking lists has experienced a slight downward shift in recent years.

The admission test policy at the College of St. Scholastica is optional, considered if submitted. For the 2025 entering class, score ranges show that enrolled students at the 25th to 75th percentiles earned an ACT composite score between 19 and 25, with both English and math sections showing similar mid-range percentiles. Standardized testing represents a secondary consideration in admissions decisions, as few applicants report scores. In 2025, approximately 25 percent of enrolled students submitted ACT results, and 1 percent submitted SAT results. For applicants evaluating what credentials they need, these figures demonstrate that those submitting test scores generally post moderate marks. Because submitting examination scores remains optional and a large share of the student body enrolls without them, applicants can demonstrate college readiness through sustained performance in high school coursework and cumulative grade point averages.

Academic offerings at the College of St. Scholastica are heavily concentrated in health professions, which represent the school's primary academic identity. In 2025, the college conferred 560 bachelor's degrees, with the top three majors accounting for 55.5% of all undergraduate graduates. Registered Nursing is by far the largest undergraduate program, producing 231 graduates in 2025. While undergraduate nursing ranked 336th on the U.S. News list in 2027, the college's standout nationally recognized strength is at the graduate level, where Occupational Therapy ranked 84th in 2026. Career outcomes for healthcare graduates are correspondingly robust. According to 2023 earnings data one year after graduation, registered nursing graduates earned a median salary of $77,966, representing the highest compensation among undergraduate fields. International student participation remains minimal across these clinical pathways, with no international graduates in nursing in 2025. For applicants focused on healthcare careers, the college provides clear vocational pathways and strong initial earning potential.

The student body at the College of St. Scholastica comprises both traditional undergraduates and a substantial graduate division across its Duluth campus. White students constitute the majority across all educational levels, while other racial and ethnic groups represent smaller communities within the university. International student representation is most notable among incoming first-year undergraduates, where 43 international students make up 11.5% of the freshman class. By comparison, international numbers drop off sharply at the graduate level, where only a couple of students are enrolled. Asian students show the opposite pattern across levels; they comprise a modest portion of the undergraduate population, but in the graduate division, Asian students number 89, accounting for 7.9% of graduate enrollment. Across all levels, female students make up a clear majority of the enrolled population, reflecting the college's focus on healthcare and nursing programs.

The age distribution at the College of St. Scholastica illustrates a distinct contrast between undergraduate and graduate campus life in 2025. Undergraduate enrollment is overwhelmingly composed of traditional college-age individuals. Students aged 18 to 19 make up 34% of undergraduates, while those aged 20 to 21 account for 33.3%. This creates a conventional daytime collegiate atmosphere centered on standard undergraduate routines. In contrast, the graduate student population is much older and reflects working professionals balancing advanced degrees. The largest graduate group consists of students aged 25 to 29 at 25.3%, followed closely by young professionals and mid-career adults in their forties. Consequently, campus culture divides between a traditional full-time undergraduate community and an adult-oriented graduate sector.

International student presence at the College of St. Scholastica has trended upward at the undergraduate level while remaining exceedingly small among graduate programs. In 2025, international students comprised 6% of the undergraduate student body, an increase from earlier years. This undergraduate share is higher than 63% of peer private comprehensive universities. In stark contrast, international participation at the graduate level has decreased, accounting for just 0.2% of graduate enrollment in 2025. Among graduating cohorts, international students represent a modest fraction of bachelor's degree recipients and no doctorate completions. In terms of academic concentrations, international undergraduates did not complete degrees in the college's largest field of nursing, but instead concentrated in fields such as exercise physiology and kinesiology, where they made up 5.9% of graduates.

Families evaluating regional higher education options near northern Minnesota can consider several institutions within traveling distance of Duluth. Located 138.4 kilometers away, the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is a major public research institution ranked 59 among national universities in the 2027 rankings. For students seeking private comprehensive environments, Bethel University sits 131.6 kilometers away with a national university rank of 236, while the University of St Thomas is situated 139.5 kilometers away and ranked 156. Additionally, applicants interested in liberal arts colleges can look to Macalester College, located 139.4 kilometers away and ranked 28th among national liberal arts colleges.

Campus safety indicators at the College of St. Scholastica point to a low overall frequency of reported offenses, with incident rates decreasing over the past decade. In 2025, the college reported a crime rate of 1.7 per 1,000 students, marking a substantial reduction from earlier reporting periods. Over the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, the vast majority of safety-related reports were concentrated in a few specific categories. The largest multi-year category total was 7 incidents of rape, followed by 5 disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations and a minimal number of sexual harassment cases. Official reporting shows very few property crimes or severe violent offenses across the Duluth campus grounds. For prospective students and families assessing daily life, these multi-year records reflect a quiet campus environment where safety incidents are relatively infrequent and disciplinary actions remain low.