Seton Hall University is one of the oldest and largest diocesan Roman Catholic universities in the United States, founded in 1856 and based on a 58-acre campus in South Orange, New Jersey — about 14 miles from midtown Manhattan. The university enrolls roughly 9,800 students across nine schools and colleges, including the highly regarded Stillman School of Business (AACSB-accredited, top 1% of business schools globally), the School of Diplomacy & International Relations (in formal partnership with the United Nations Association of the USA), the College of Nursing, and the Seton Hall Law School. For international students, Seton Hall offers a rare combination — small-to-mid private university culture, Catholic Jesuit-style intellectual tradition, NYC proximity (a 30-minute NJ Transit ride into Penn Station), and a notably international student body anchored by the Diplomacy school. The Stillman School's leadership program is ranked #1 in the country, the Sport Management program is consistently top-ranked, and the Diplomacy program funnels graduates into the U.N., the State Department, NATO, and major NGOs. Seton Hall is need-aware for international students and test-optional through Fall 2029 for domestic applicants — though international applicants who do not submit SAT/ACT must demonstrate English proficiency via TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo. The university is generous with merit aid (95% of undergraduates receive grants or scholarships, averaging $31,671) and offers several scholarships specifically open to international freshmen, including the Latino Heritage Scholarship and the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship. The Catholic identity is welcoming rather than restrictive — students of all faiths are admitted and supported.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceThe deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Domestic
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/yr
Out-of-State / Intl
$52,000 – $56,000
/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.
AACSB-accredited business school in the top 10% globally; the Accounting program ranks in the global top 1% and the Leadership program is rated #1 in the country. Strong NYC recruiting pipeline.
One of only two diplomacy schools in the U.S. with a formal UN partnership (via the United Nations Association of the USA). Curriculum emphasizes diplomacy, global negotiation, international economics, and human rights.
The largest college, offering humanities, sciences, social sciences, and pre-professional tracks. Strong departments include Biology (pre-med pipeline), Psychology, Political Science, and Catholic Studies.
Direct-admit BSN program with strong NCLEX pass rates and NJ-metro hospital placements (Atlantic Health, Hackensack Meridian, RWJ Barnabas).
Located in downtown Newark, the Law School is nationally ranked for Health Law, Intellectual Property, and Trial Advocacy.
4 years
Unique among U.S. undergrad programs — formal partnership with the United Nations Association of the USA gives Seton Hall students access to UN events, internships, and a curriculum co-designed with practicing diplomats.
4 years
AACSB top 1% Accounting program; #1-ranked Leadership program in the country. Strong recruitment by Big Four accounting firms, NYC investment banks, and Fortune 500s.
4 years
Direct-admit BSN with clinical rotations across major NJ hospital systems and one of the strongest NCLEX pass rates in the region.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $53,170
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.
