College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University - Saint John's University

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University are two liberal arts colleges located four miles apart in Central Minnesota. Saint Benedict's is a college for women and Saint John's is a college for men. The students of these two colleges share in one common education, as well as coeducational social, cultural and spiritual programs. The colleges encourage students to come to terms with their own personal development in relation to their peers and to bring that enriched understanding into the lively coeducational life which characterizes the two campuses.

In 1856, four Benedictine monks were dispatched from Saint Vincent Abbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to establish a presence in the Minnesota Territory. They settled along the banks of the Mississippi River near present-day St. Cloud, and later founded a monastery in nearby lndianbush.

From its inception, Saint John's University has valued the liberal arts as a preparation for careers of leadership in church and society. Saint John's is a partner with the College of Saint Benedict, providing the men from SJU and the women from CSB the opportunity to benefit from the distinctions of two nationally recognized Catholic undergraduate colleges. Together, Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict challenge their 3,300 students to live balanced lives of learning, work, leadership and service.

Why College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University

• Campus Life: CSB/SJU are proud NCAA Division III schools in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. In addition to their 23 varsity athletic programs, they offer club sports and intramurals for students looking to get involved, try something new or continue a sport they love. Students can also enjoy an impressive variety of outdoor and campus recreation opportunities to stay active and adventurous.
• Student Wellness: The idea of a balanced, fulfilling life is not new to CSB/SJU. Under the overarching Benedictine values of their founders, they’ve historically focused on providing transformative experiences that enable students to reach their full potential intellectually, spiritually, emotionally and physically. A wide variety of approaches to wellness exist for students—from counseling services and peer programs to medical referral services and health information and resources—inside and outside the classroom, students experience a holistic approach to promoting health in body, mind and spirit.
• Career Development: Students will have access to all sorts of resources and a tight network of support as they prepare for their next steps after college. In addition to an academic advisor who knows their name and their goals, the CSB/SJU's Experience & Professional Development (XPD) department will help students with career readiness or preparations for graduate school. They're so committed to student success that they’re ranked the #1 and #2 colleges in Minnesota for getting a job.