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U.S. News #156 Private nonprofit, 4-year

University of St Thomas

Saint Paul, Minnesota · www.stthomas.edu

中文

U.S. News National 2027

#156

Up 2 from 2026

Acceptance rate

85.4%

2025

Peer median 71.7%

Tuition per year

$54,398

$69,367 with room and board

Peer median $49,975

Undergraduates

6,270

Student-faculty ratio 14:1

Peer median 12 : 1

Graduation rate

70.3%

4-year; 6-year rate 79.6%

Peer median 63.5%

“Peers” are the 30 closest-ranked private national universities, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.

About

The University of St Thomas is a private Roman Catholic university located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Established as a four-year nonprofit institution, it provides a comprehensive array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs. In the 2027 US News Best Colleges rankings, the university was ranked 156th among national universities. While offering broad academic tracks across the liberal arts, business, and sciences, the university is recognized for specialized graduate offerings. In the 2026 US News rankings, its law school earned notable marks, with Legal Writing ranked 28th and Clinical Training ranked 42nd nationwide. With its campus situated in the Twin Cities metropolitan area, the university combines faith-based heritage with urban access, preparing students for professional careers in business, law, health, and engineering.

Evaluating undergraduate investment at the University of St Thomas reveals a balance between substantial tuition costs and dependable degree completion. For the 2025 academic year, undergraduate tuition was $54,398, placing the institution in the upper tier among similarly ranked private research universities. In return, the university delivers strong academic progression that helps students finish their programs without prolonged delays. In 2025, the four-year graduation rate reached 70.3%, showing that a clear majority of undergraduates complete their degrees within the standard four-year period. Degree completion increases further over an extended window, with the six-year graduation rate reaching 79.6%, which was higher than 97% of peer schools in that same group. First-year retention also remains stable. For families planning educational investments, these outcomes indicate that despite high list tuition, the institution offers dependable instructional support and completion rates that comfortably surpass peer medians.

This collegeRanked colleges nearby

Setting
Large city
Nearest major city
In Minneapolis
Nearest international airport
Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP), about 5 mi
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Also known as
University of Saint Thomas
Academic calendar
4-1-4
Religious affiliation
Roman Catholic
President
Robert K. Vischer (President)
Phone
6519625000
City
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Address
2115 Summit Ave, Saint Paul, MN 55105-1078

Rankings & Admission

Acceptance rate (%)

Peer median 71.7% · the 30 closest-ranked private national universities

Acceptance rate by gender, 2025

Men
84.7%
Women
86.2%

In 2020: men 82.4%, women 79.0%.

U.S. News National Universities · last 10 years
#107 #123 #139 #155 #171 2018: #115 #115 2019: #124 2020: #139 2021: #133 2022: #136 2023: #137 2024: #163 #163 2025: #148 2026: #158 2027: #156 #156 20182027

Best #115, lowest #163, latest #156 over the last ten years.

Data insights

Admission to the University of St Thomas is quite accessible, even as its institutional standing has slipped over the past decade. In the US News Best Colleges rankings, the university occupied position 156 for 2027, declining from 115 in 2018. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the school admitted applicants at a rate of 85.4%, which was higher than 97% of peer schools in a comparison group of thirty similarly ranked private research universities. This generous admission rate shows that the university remains widely receptive to candidates across a broad academic spectrum. Once admitted, students enroll at a measured pace. The university recorded a yield rate of 20.8% in 2025. While fewer than a quarter of accepted students ultimately choose to attend, the institution maintains dependable local appeal. For prospective applicants, these patterns mean that qualified students face favorable admissions odds and a straightforward path to an offer of admission.

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

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

2025 admitted students, 25th–75th percentile · 3% submitted SAT, 27% submitted ACT · SAT/ACT optional: considered if submitted

SAT total1260–1423Peer median 1290
ACT composite25–30
SAT Reading
640–713
600700800
SAT Math
620–710
600700800
ACT composite
25–30
253036

Data insights

Applicants to the University of St Thomas should prepare for academic standards that place successful candidates near the upper range of comparable private institutions. For the 2025 entering class, the enrolled student SAT midpoint stood at 1345, a mark higher than 85% of peer schools among similarly ranked private research universities. Standardized tests are reported by only a minority of enrolling undergraduates, though composite ACT results generally settle in the upper range. When reviewing high school academic performance, international candidates can look to benchmark records for guidance. In applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway, which are unofficial data, admitted international students held a median unweighted GPA of 3.74. Taken together, these figures suggest that admissions review favors candidates with solid high school marks and academic readiness that meets or exceeds peer institutional medians. Focusing on consistent secondary school grades provides the most dependable foundation for a competitive application.

How Hard Is It to Get In

about 9 in 10

9,774 applicants in 2025, 85.4% admitted

8,343 admitted 1,431 not admitted Yield 20.8%

Degrees & Majors

Graduates in 2025 (first major)

Associate700 international (0.0%)
Bachelor's1,27670 international (5.5%)
Master's84778 international (9.2%)
Doctoral1889 international (4.8%)
Top 10 Bachelor's majors by graduates
Finance, General
136
Marketing/Marketing Management, General
118
Mechanical Engineering
77
Biology/Biological Sciences, General
77
Business Administration and Management, General
69
Psychology, General
64
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
52
Accounting
48
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other
43
Computer Science
43

U.S. studentsInternational

Popular graduate programs

  • Law · Doctoral147 (3% international)
  • Business Administration and Management, General · Master's115 (3% international)
  • Special Education and Teaching, Other · Master's98 (2% international)
  • Counseling Psychology · Master's76 (3% international)
  • Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration · Master's58 (24% international)
  • Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other · Master's53 (2% international)

Data insights

Academic offerings at the University of St Thomas emphasize applied business, pre-professional disciplines, and professional graduate study, without extreme concentration in any single subject. Undergraduate conferrals show a healthy distribution across disciplines, with the top three bachelor majors—Finance, General; Marketing/Marketing Management, General; and Mechanical Engineering—together accounting for 25.9% of bachelor graduates in 2025. While undergraduate degrees concentrate primarily in commerce and engineering, the highest nationally ranked specialties reside in professional graduate schools. In the 2026 US News rankings, the university earned national standing for graduate legal programs, with Legal Writing ranked 28 and Clinical Training ranked 42. In contrast, the largest undergraduate business programs are not the school's highest-ranked offerings. Early career compensation demonstrates strong financial returns in quantitative and technical areas. According to 2023 earnings data, graduates in Computer Science earned a median of $81,807 one year after graduation, closely matched by engineering peers. For prospective students, this profile highlights well-established career preparation in business alongside strong earnings in computing and specialized legal training.

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

Businesshas 772 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Business Administration and Management, General.$60,967-$131,775
Business Administration, Management and Operations, Other.$60,967-$131,775
Accounting.$69,598
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies.$55,972
Finance, General.$68,672
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General.$66,772
International Business/Trade/Commerce.-
Business Statistics.$74,340-$116,675
Actuarial Science.$74,340-$116,675
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Other.$74,340-$116,675
Marketing/Marketing Management, General.$60,120
Real Estate.$59,221
Educationhas 231 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Curriculum and Instruction.-
Educational Leadership and Administration, General.$59,507
Higher Education/Higher Education Administration.$59,507
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities.$59,199
Education/Teaching of Individuals with Autism.$59,199
Special Education and Teaching, Other.$59,199
Elementary Education and Teaching.$46,220-$55,821
Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching.$46,220-$55,821
Secondary Education and Teaching.$46,220-$55,821
English/Language Arts Teacher Education.-
Mathematics Teacher Education.-
Music Teacher Education.-
Social Studies Teacher Education.-
Physics Teacher Education.-
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas, Other.-
Education, Other.-
Engineeringhas 178 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Applied Engineering.-
Civil Engineering, General.$72,150
Computer Engineering, General.-
Electrical and Electronics Engineering.$81,789-$106,308
Mechanical Engineering.$75,316-$90,877
Systems Engineering.-
Manufacturing Engineering.-
Legal professionshas 171 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Law.$74,234
Advanced Legal Research/Studies, General.$105,153
Psychology has 159 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Psychology, General.$41,697
Counseling Psychology.$56,599
Computer and information sciencehas 156 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Computer and Information Sciences, General.$100,515-$101,746
Artificial Intelligence.$100,515-$101,746
Information Technology.$100,515-$101,746
Computer Science.$81,807
Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration.$105,005
Biologyhas 105 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Biology/Biological Sciences, General.$39,107
Biochemistry.$45,467
Neuroscience.$38,376
Social sciencehas 75 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Criminology.$45,526
Economics, General.$67,246
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics.$67,246
Development Economics and International Development.$67,246
International Economics.$67,246
Geography.-
International Relations and Affairs.-
Political Science and Government, General.$46,285
Sociology, General.-
Public administrationhas 74 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Social Work.$62,144-$93,790
Liberal arts has 73 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies.$31,634
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities, Other.$31,634
Health professionshas 70 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Health/Health Care Administration/Management.-
Public Health, General.$47,932
Public Health Education and Promotion.$47,932
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse.-
Philosophy has 65 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Philosophy.$35,672
Religion/Religious Studies.$38,342
Visual and Performing artshas 40 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Digital Arts.-
Film/Cinema/Media Studies.-
Art History, Criticism and Conservation.-
Music, General.-
Music Performance, General.-
Parks, recreation, leisure has 39 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Exercise Science and Kinesiology.$35,685
Theology has 32 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Theology/Theological Studies.$72,389
Divinity/Ministry.$72,389
Lay Ministry.-
English has 28 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
English Language and Literature, General.-
Creative Writing.$41,643
Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing.$41,643
Communication has 28 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Speech Communication and Rhetoric.$44,573
Journalism.-
Advertising.-
Physical scienceshas 25 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Chemistry, General.-
Geology/Earth Science, General.-
Physics, General.-
Engineering technologieshas 19 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Engineering/Industrial Management.-
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other.-
Mathmatics and statistics has 14 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Mathematics, General.-
Statistics, General.$74,154
Natural resources has 12 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Environmental Studies.$44,847
Environmental Science.$44,847
Foreign languages has 9 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
German Language and Literature.-
French Language and Literature.-
Spanish Language and Literature.-
Hispanic and Latin American Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, General.-
Multi/inerdisciplinary studies has 8 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.-
Human Biology.-
Data Science, General.-
History has 7 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
History, General.-
Human science has 6 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Family Systems.-
Cultural has 1 graduates in 2025
MajorGraduate SalaryAssociateUnderMasterDoctor
Women's Studies.-

Students

9,410 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 50:50 · Freshman retention 88.5%

Undergraduate race and ethnicity (6,270)

White
3,905 · 62.3%
Hispanic
711 · 11.3%
Black
544 · 8.7%
Asian
345 · 5.5%
Two or more races
285 · 4.5%
International
236 · 3.8%
Unknown
227 · 3.6%

Age distribution

Bachelor's

Under 18
0.8%
18–19
48.7%
20–21
40.2%
22–24
7.7%
25 and over
2.6%

Graduate students

Under 22
1.3%
22–24
22.5%
25–29
30.8%
30–34
15.9%
35 and over
29.5%

Data insights

The student body at the University of St Thomas is predominantly composed of domestic students, with White students forming the largest racial group across all divisions. In 2025, Asian and international students formed small but consistent communities on campus. Among first-year undergraduates, Asian students numbered 95, accounting for 5.4% of the class. International first-year students totaled 51, representing 2.9% of incoming freshmen. Across continuing undergraduate cohorts and graduate programs, Asian and international representation follows a similar pattern, with graduate studies enrolling a slightly higher proportion of international scholars. Hispanic and Black students make up additional significant communities across the university. For prospective students, these enrollment figures depict a campus setting grounded firmly in domestic regional enrollment, where international and Asian learners contribute to campus life through distinct cohorts across undergraduate and graduate divisions.

Undergraduate enrollment at the University of St Thomas is dominated by traditional college-age students. In 2025, the youngest undergraduate age bracket made up 48.7% of the undergraduate population, followed by the next collegiate age group at 40.2%. Because almost the entire undergraduate student body falls within traditional college ages, campus life is organized around full-time daytime study and standard collegiate activities. Graduate programs, by contrast, serve an older demographic, with the largest cohort accounting for 30.8% of all graduate students. This demographic split creates distinct environments: a closely synchronized undergraduate campus culture alongside a career-oriented graduate community.

International Students

International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of the 30 closest-ranked private national universities

Undergraduates3.8%

236 in 2025 · 3.4% in 2016

0% 5% 10% 2016: 3.4%2017: 3.0%2018: 2.7%2019: 2.9%2020: 2.8%2021: 3.0%2022: 3.3%2023: 3.9%2024: 3.6%2025: 3.8%
2016Peer median 3.3%2025
Graduate students8.0%

251 in 2025 · 8.5% in 2016

0% 7.5% 15% 2016: 8.5%2017: 9.8%2018: 11.3%2019: 11.0%2020: 10.7%2021: 9.2%2022: 8.8%2023: 9.0%2024: 8.8%2025: 8.0%
2016Peer median 11.3%2025

Data insights

International student presence at the University of St Thomas shows diverging trajectories between undergraduate and graduate levels. Among undergraduates, international representation has grown slightly over the past decade, reaching a share of 3.8% in 2025. In contrast, international graduate enrollment has trended downward, settling at a share of 8% in the same year. When looking at degrees awarded, international graduates accounted for a modest portion of bachelor's recipients, with small representations scattered across popular undergraduate fields like mechanical engineering and finance. Graduate degrees demonstrate much sharper curricular concentration. While general business and education masters programs draw few foreign scholars, specialized technical tracks show significant international appeal. In 2025, international students earned 24.1% of master's degrees conferred in Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration. For prospective international students, these patterns indicate that while the general campus remains heavily domestic, advanced technical disciplines provide focused cohorts of international peers.

Cost

2025 cost per year

$69,367

Undergraduate tuition
$54,398
Room and board
$14,969
Graduate tuition
$21,151
Tuition and room and board over time

Peer median tuition + room and board $67,372 · the 30 closest-ranked private national universities

Tuition rose 43% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 59%.

Finances · fiscal year 2024

Revenue$369M

Tuition and fees
$175M47.4%
Investment return
$66.4M18.0%
Gifts and private grants
$64.0M17.3%
Auxiliary enterprises
$47.3M12.8%
Government grants and contracts
$11.9M3.2%
Sales and services of educational activities
$1.8M0.5%
Other
$2.4M0.7%

Expenses$317M

Instruction
$137M43.4%
Student services
$52.7M16.6%
Auxiliary enterprises
$48.7M15.4%
Institutional support
$45.8M14.5%
Academic support
$24.8M7.8%
Public service
$4.0M1.3%
Research
$3.1M1.0%

Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)

Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at the 30 closest-ranked private national universities

All faculty
$105,935peers $102,368
Professor
$126,206peers $127,664
Associate professor
$99,225peers $103,222
Assistant professor
$96,224peers $88,321
Instructor
$85,767peers $73,398
Lecturer
$85,963peers $78,985

Campus Life

Athletics and varsity athletes NCAA · Pioneer Football League · The Summit League

Pioneer Football League: football

The Summit League: basketball, baseball, cross country

2025
NCAA Division I-FCSMENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)101159
Football110-
Swimming and Diving (combined)2740
Soccer2931
Ice Hockey3022
Baseball37-
Basketball1617
Softball-24
Volleyball-19
Golf88
Tennis-10
2024
NCAA Division I-FCSMENWOMEN
Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)103159
Football110-
Swimming and Diving (combined)2739
Soccer2931
Ice Hockey2729
Baseball34-
Basketball1516
Softball-24
Golf911
Volleyball-20
Tennis-9
2023
NCAA Division I-FCSMENWOMEN
Football110-
Track and Field (Indoor)3862
Track and Field (Outdoor)3560
Swimming and Diving (combined)2738
Soccer3030
Ice Hockey2827
Cross Country1229
Baseball37-
Basketball1415
Softball-25
Golf1010
Volleyball-20
Tennis-10

Nearby & Safety

Ranked colleges nearby

Data insights

Prospective students considering the University of St Thomas in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area have several neighboring higher education options across distinct institutional formats. Just 1.1 kilometers away, Macalester College is ranked 28th among national liberal arts colleges in the 2027 US News rankings, offering an intimate undergraduate setting. A mere 3 kilometers away stands the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, ranked 59th among national universities, providing the extensive research facilities and expansive curriculum of a large flagship public university. Another nearby alternative is Bethel University, located 8 kilometers away and ranked 236th among national universities. Further south, roughly 33.3 kilometers away in Northfield, Carleton College ranks 16th among national liberal arts colleges. These neighboring institutions provide families with diverse choices spanning prominent liberal arts colleges, faith-based universities, and major public research centers.

Campus safety · incidents per 1,000 students

Peer median 5.6 · the 30 closest-ranked private national universities

Incidents, 2023–2025

Liquor referrals
344
Drug referrals
26
Stalking
26
Rape
16
Burglary
16
Motor vehicle theft
15

From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.

Data insights

Campus safety indicators at the University of St Thomas reflect an overall improving security environment. The crime rate per 1,000 students declined from 13 in 2016 to 8.1 in 2025. Looking at specific offenses over the period from 2023 to 2025, the vast majority of recorded campus incidents involved disciplinary infractions rather than violent crimes. Across those years, campus authorities logged 344 disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations and 26 disciplinary referrals for drug violations. Other offenses occurred at much lower frequencies during this period, including occasional stalking reports, burglaries, and vehicle thefts. For prospective students and families evaluating safety, these statistics demonstrate that campus security concerns primarily center on institutional alcohol and substance policy enforcement, while serious criminal offenses remain infrequent across the university community.

Notable Alumni

All 24

Notable alumni of University of St Thomas include Blase Cupich (Archbishop of Chicago and cardinal), Vince Flynn (Author of political thrillers featuring Mitch Rapp) and Paul D. Etienne (Catholic Archbishop of Seattle).

See all 24 notable alumni of University of St Thomas →

Recent News at University of St Thomas

Summarized daily from the school's official news. Click "Source" for the original story.

5Updates in the past 12 months
Oct 28Latest update
Programs & rankingsMost common topic
  1. Admissions

    The University of St. Thomas (MN) enrolled 6,784 undergraduates, its highest in a decade, including 1,526 new first-years and 72 international first-years; total enrollment was 9,870.

    Source: news.stthomas.edu
  2. Rankings

    The University of St. Thomas ranks No. 78 on U.S. News's Top Private Colleges list, highest among Minnesota private National Universities, and remains the state's No. 1 Best Value in the 2026-27 rankings.

    Source: news.stthomas.edu
  3. Gifts & funding

    The University of St. Thomas publicly launched a $1 billion comprehensive campaign with nearly $800 million committed, and announced an $82 million commitment from two Ciresi foundations.

    Source: news.stthomas.edu
  4. Campus facilities

    The University of St. Thomas College of Engineering opened a data visualization studio funded by a $1 million U.S. Army Research Lab grant, with a 36-foot curved LED display for up to 28 users.

    Source: news.stthomas.edu
  5. New program

    The University of St. Thomas School of Education launched an undergraduate teacher residency program this summer, supported by the I.A. O'Shaughnessy Foundation, expanding its graduate residency programs.

    Source: news.stthomas.edu
  6. Campus Life

    National Voter Education Week at the University of St. Thomas featured events from Oct. 7-11 to promote political awareness, civic engagement, and dialogue among students, faculty, staff, and civic leaders.

    Source: news.stthomas.edu

References and Data Sources

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.