“America's first Benedictine college — a 175-year tradition of liberal arts and Catholic intellectual life in southwestern Pennsylvania.”
Saint Vincent College is the first Benedictine college, school, and seminary in the United States, founded in 1846 by the Benedictine Order in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. Located on a 200-acre campus alongside Saint Vincent Archabbey (the largest Benedictine monastery in the Western Hemisphere), Saint Vincent combines its 179-year Benedictine heritage with a comprehensive liberal arts and pre-professional curriculum. With approximately 1,284 undergraduates, an 11:1 student-to-faculty ratio, and a campus consistently ranked as the top Benedictine college in the country, SVC offers a distinctive Catholic intellectual community grounded in the Benedictine values of stability, conversion of life, and obedience. The college offers more than 50 majors across business, the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and education. Distinctive programs include the McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government; strong pre-medical and pre-health pipelines; environmental science programs leveraging the surrounding wooded campus; and the Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Computing. The Integrated Language Studies (ILS) pathway provides international students with English language and academic support to enable successful liberal arts study. Saint Vincent has been featured by College Raptor as a 2026 Hidden Gem and is recognized for delivering exceptional value alongside its Catholic Benedictine character. Campus life at Saint Vincent reflects both Benedictine traditions and modern liberal arts vibrancy. The Bearcats compete in NCAA Division III athletics across 25 sports, and 60+ student organizations enrich the residential community. The campus famously serves as the summer training site for the Pittsburgh Steelers, bringing NFL training camp atmosphere to the college community each summer. Saint Vincent's combination of Benedictine community, academic rigor, athletic spirit, and proximity to Pittsburgh makes it a distinctive choice for students seeking a Catholic intellectual community with strong career outcomes — 10-year median earnings of $49,600 reflect the college's commitment to preparing graduates for meaningful work and life.
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
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding; priority scholarship review
Regular Decision
Rolling admissions
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$44,336
/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.
Strong business education integrating Catholic social thought with traditional business disciplines.
Comprehensive STEM offerings with active research programs and pre-health pathways.
Distinctive sciences with strong pre-medical and pre-health placement records.
Programs in literature, history, philosophy, theology, languages, and the arts grounded in the Benedictine intellectual tradition.
Teacher preparation and social science programs preparing students for service-oriented careers.
4 years
SVC's flagship business school integrating Catholic social thought with rigorous business education and Pittsburgh-area corporate placement.
4 years
Strong pre-health track with high acceptance rates to medical, dental, and pharmacy programs.
4 years
Distinctive Catholic theology program in the Benedictine intellectual tradition, connecting students with the broader Saint Vincent Archabbey community.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $42,396
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.
