Outcomes
Put simply, a degree from The College of St. Scholastica is a worthwhile investment.
The Return on Investing in a
St. Scholastica Education
Our undergraduate students leave with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed, both as employees and responsible citizens. Grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation, they are prepared to think critically and respond to a changing world.
St. Scholastica’s rigorous academics engage all students in meaningful educational experiences in and outside the classrooms, from firsthand undergraduate research and internships to study abroad and volunteer opportunities.
Ranked
We invite you to learn about the benefits of a St. Scholastica education. Please take time to review our rankings and evaluate our numbers.
- U.S. News & World Report included St. Scholastica on its 2025 Best National Universities list
- Princeton Review included St. Scholastica on its 2025 Best Midwestern colleges list
- Money magazine included St. Scholastica on its 2024 “America’s Best Colleges” list, based on educational quality, affordability and student outcomes
- University HQ included St. Scholastica on its Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Minnesota list. Additionally, University HQ recognized the College on its Best Master’s Degrees in Minnesota list.
- Intelligent.com recognized St. Scholastica with the Best Benedictine Option Award on its Best Online Catholic Colleges list
Programs Among Nation’s Best
- Best Graduate Schools by U.S. News & World Report. Graduate programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy and social work ranked among leading graduate school programs across the nation
- Best Online Education Programs by U.S. News & World Report. The Master of Education program ranked highest among all Minnesota schools and in the top third of schools nationwide.
- Best Master’s Degrees in Health Information Management by Best Accredited Colleges. St. Scholastica is considered one of the top schools in the nation and the top private school in Minnesota to earn this recognition.
State Authorization
The College of St. Scholastica has been approved to participate in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements.
Graduation, Retention and Exam Rates
These graduation and retention rates show the percentage of undergraduate traditional, non-traditional and graduate students during a time period and by program. And, the exam pass rates showcase the percentage of licensure pass rates broken out by their corresponding population and program.
Undergraduate Traditional Students
Retention Rates
The retention rate shows the percentage of bachelor-seeking students by program.
| Program | Retention |
|---|---|
| Biology (BA) | 100% |
| Business Management (BA) | 83% |
| Computer Information Systems (BS) | 93% |
| Exercise Physiology (BS) | 77% |
| Finance (BS) | 80% |
| Nursing (BS) | 83% |
| Pre-Physical Therapy | 77% |
| Psychology (BA) | 87% |
*Retention rates are defined as our fall 2023 bachelor-seeking program populations and if they retained in the fall of 2024. Note that this is not a complete listing of majors but a variety of our traditional programs. Majors listed have ten or more students in the incoming class.
Fall to Fall Retention Rate for First-Time, Degree-Seeking Students
The retention rate is the percent of first-year students who returned the next fall for their sophomore year.
* The average retention rate for the fall 2022 cohort at Minnesota and Wisconsin postsecondary institutions was 77.3%. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Fall Enrollment component.
Graduation Rates
Graduation rates show the number of first-time students who graduated from a particular program.
| Program | Rate |
|---|---|
| Biology (BS) | 88% |
| Business Management (BA) | 85% |
| Elementary Education (BS) | 71% |
| Exercise Physiology (BS) | 71% |
| Nursing (BS) | 71% |
| Pre-Medicine | 73% |
| Pre-Physical Therapy | 100% |
| Psychology (BA) | 74% |
| Social Work (BA) | 83% |
*Traditional 6-year program graduation rates are calculated using our fall 2018 cohort of new first-year students with a completion deadline of Aug. 31, 2024. Note that this is not a complete listing of majors but a variety of our traditional programs. Majors listed have ten or more students in the incoming class.
Graduation rates show the number of students who graduate within a certain time period from when they start. Our four-year graduation rate is higher than public colleges and universities in Minnesota and on par with peer private colleges and universities throughout the state. Our six-year graduation rate is also above average.
Graduation Rate Comparison
*The average six-year graduation rate for the 2016 cohort at Minnesota and Wisconsin postsecondary institutions was 66%. SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Graduation Rates component.
Licensure Exam Pass Rates
| Program | Year | Rate |
|---|---|---|
|
Registered Nursing |
2023 |
82.8% |
|
Social Work |
2023 |
51.9% |
Exam rates include both traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students. The rate is calculated based on public information made available to the institution.
Undergraduate Experience
At St. Scholastica, we understand the college experience is more than just what happens in the classroom. It’s everything that goes into preparing you for a life of purpose and meaningful work.
Real-World Learning
More than 90% of first-year students participate in high-impact practices, such as service-learning, a learning community or research with faculty. Plus, the campus boasts a newly renovated, state-of-the-art science center with 13 labs and one of the nation’s few undergraduate donor body anatomy labs.
