“A Benedictine Catholic college on the shores of Lake Superior known for exceptional health sciences and a tight-knit residential community.”
The College of Saint Scholastica is a private Catholic institution rooted in the Benedictine tradition, founded in 1912 by the Benedictine Sisters of the Federation of St. Scholastica on a 186-acre hilltop campus overlooking Duluth, Minnesota and the western shore of Lake Superior. With approximately 3,500 students across undergraduate and graduate programs, Saint Scholastica offers an intimate learning environment shaped by the Benedictine values of community, hospitality, love of learning, and service to others. The college's scenic Duluth location provides a distinctive natural setting while offering proximity to major Midwest healthcare employers and the Twin Cities metro for career development. Academically, Saint Scholastica is best known for its health sciences programs, which draw students from across the region and beyond. Nursing is consistently the college's most popular undergraduate major, with strong clinical placements across the Duluth-Superior healthcare system. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical imaging, and athletic training programs complete a comprehensive health professions portfolio. The Stender School of Leadership, Business, and Professional Studies offers degrees in business, management, and social work for students seeking career-focused credentials within a values-driven framework. Graduate programs in health professions, education, technology, and business serve working professionals with flexible scheduling. Campus life at Saint Scholastica is defined by a strong residential community — the college requires two years of on-campus living for traditional-aged students, fostering a deeply connected cohort experience across nine residential buildings. More than 60 student clubs and organizations, NCAA Division III athletics as the Saints competing in the MIAC, and Duluth's exceptional outdoor recreation scene (Superior Hiking Trail, kayaking Lake Superior, ski areas) combine to create a rich student experience. For international students, Saint Scholastica offers among the most generous automatic merit scholarships in its peer group: Benedictine Scholarships ranging from $20,000 to $30,000 per year, plus a $5,000 Global Grant for on-campus residents — making a quality Benedictine education genuinely accessible.
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 early action; early notification of admission and scholarships
Rolling Admission
Applications accepted on a rolling basis through end of August for fall enrollment; application is free
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$39,530
/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.
Saint Scholastica's flagship academic unit and the college's defining strength. Offers nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, medical imaging, athletic training, and public health programs — all with strong clinical placements in the Duluth and broader Minnesota healthcare market.
Offers career-focused programs in business administration, management, accounting, and social work, grounded in Benedictine values of ethical leadership. Graduate programs in business and organizational leadership serve working professionals.
Provides the liberal arts foundation and sciences curriculum that underpins professional programs. Strong offerings in biology, psychology, education, communication, and pre-professional health pathways.
4 years
The college's most popular and prestigious program, with a robust clinical training infrastructure across Duluth's major hospitals and health systems. Graduates enter one of the strongest regional nursing labor markets in the Upper Midwest, with excellent NCLEX outcomes and near-100% employment placement.
3 years
A graduate-entry professional program preparing students for licensure as physical therapists. Strong clinical network across Minnesota and the Midwest. Physical therapy graduates are in high demand across hospital systems, outpatient clinics, and school-based settings.
4 years
Values-driven business program offering concentrations in management, accounting, and marketing within the Benedictine tradition of ethical leadership and community service. Strong connections to Duluth and Northeast Minnesota business community.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $41,778
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.
