“A Benedictine Catholic liberal arts college shaping thoughtful, ethical leaders in the heart of New England.”
Saint Anselm College is a private Catholic liberal arts institution founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks in Manchester, New Hampshire, making it one of the oldest Catholic colleges in New England. Rooted in the 1,500-year Benedictine tradition of ora et labora (pray and work), the college offers a rigorous humanistic education centered on the liberal arts, critical thinking, and ethical inquiry. Its signature Humanities Program, one of the oldest and most distinctive interdisciplinary cores in the country, requires all students to engage deeply with great works of Western thought, philosophy, and culture across multiple semesters. With around 2,094 undergraduates, class sizes are small, faculty are highly accessible, and the learning environment is intimate and personally engaged. Saint Anselm is academically strong across nursing, political science, biology, criminal justice, psychology, and business. The college is especially distinguished for its New Hampshire Institute of Politics, which plays a central role in presidential primary debates and civic education, making it a genuine hub for national political discourse. Students benefit from close faculty mentorship, experiential learning through internships in Greater Manchester and Boston, and a deep commitment to community engagement through the Meelia Center for Community Engagement. Campus life is shaped by Benedictine values, close community bonds, and New Hampshire natural landscape. The 450-acre campus sits on the border of Manchester and Goffstown, with Boston just one hour away, offering access to skiing, hiking, and a major metropolitan area. Students participate in NCAA Division II athletics, 60-plus clubs and organizations, and strong traditions of service and civic involvement. Saint Anselm combines a highly personal admissions process with generous merit scholarships, making it an accessible and transformative choice for students seeking a values-grounded liberal arts education.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Best Value Schools
US News 2026
National Liberal Arts Colleges
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action (Non-Binding)
Notification by January 15; required deadline for Nursing program applicants
Early Decision (Binding)
Notification by January 1; binding commitment required; also required for Nursing applicants
Regular Decision
Rolling notifications through mid-March
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$48,920
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Biology, biochemistry, chemistry, forensic science, mathematics, physics, data science, and environmental science
Flagship professional program offering a Bachelor of Science in Nursing with strong clinical placements and NCLEX pass rates
Political science, psychology, sociology, criminology, and social work anchored by the NH Institute of Politics
Undergraduate business programs in accounting, finance, management, and marketing
Philosophy, theology, English, history, communication, foreign languages, and the college signature Humanities Program
4 years
A nationally recognized nursing program with clinical placements at major New England hospitals, consistently ranked by US News for nursing quality and strong NCLEX pass rates.
4 years
Saint Anselm signature interdisciplinary great-books core, one of the oldest of its kind in the US, requiring students to engage with foundational texts in philosophy, theology, literature, and history across multiple semesters.
4 years
Uniquely positioned at the center of US presidential primary politics through the NH Institute of Politics, with students gaining unrivaled access to national political figures, civic events, and hands-on political research.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $48,920
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
