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College of Saint Benedict campus

College of Saint Benedict

https://www.csbsju.edu ↗

Small Classes, Strong Community, Dance Team Opportunities

CSB/SJU offers exceptional academic support with a perfect 11:1 student-faculty ratio, strong residential campus culture (NOT a commuter sch...

69.00
out of 100
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ☆ ☆
MODERATE FIT

AI Recommendation

CSB/SJU offers exceptional academic support with a perfect 11:1 student-faculty ratio, strong residential campus culture (NOT a commuter school), and outstanding nature access. The dance team walk-on opportunity is available and the school excels at pre-professional advising for physical therapy and psychology. However, there are two critical mismatches that significantly impact overall fit: 1) The rural location is the opposite of the student's urban preference, with the nearest city 1 hour away, and 2) Minnesota's climate with only 93 sunny days per year and brutal 5-6 month winters directly contradicts the student's love of sunshine. Additionally, the lack of a dedicated marketing major weakens academic alignment. While the academic support and residential culture are excellent, the environmental mismatches would likely impact daily satisfaction. Total Score: 69/100.

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Performance vs. Average College

Academic
34.0 +4.0
Avg: 30.0 85% of max
Culture
21.0 -1.0
Avg: 22.0 70% of max
Environment
5.0 -10.0
Avg: 15.0 25% of max
Special
9.0 +1.0
Avg: 8.0 90% of max
This College
Average

Score Breakdown

Academic Profile
34.0 /40 (85%)
Strong psychology program with research opportunities and graduate school prep. Solid pre-physical therapy program with Exercise Science/Kinesiology major and 3+3 DPT partnership with St. Scholastica. Pre-law advising available with good law school placement track record. Business program is respectable but not nationally ranked, and critically lacks a dedicated marketing major - marketing is only available as coursework within Business Management. This is a significant weakness given marketing is the student's primary interest. Overall solid for psychology and pre-PT, adequate for pre-law and business, but missing dedicated marketing program.
Program Strength
7.0 /10
Strong psychology program with research opportunities and graduate school prep. Solid pre-physical therapy program with Exercise Science/Kinesiology major and 3+3 DPT partnership with St. Scholastica. Pre-law advising available with good law school placement track record. Business program is respectable but not nationally ranked, and critically lacks a dedicated marketing major - marketing is only available as coursework within Business Management. This is a significant weakness given marketing is the student's primary interest. Overall solid for psychology and pre-PT, adequate for pre-law and business, but missing dedicated marketing program.
Student Faculty
10.0 /10
Exceptional 11:1 student-faculty ratio with average class size of 19 students and 90% of classes under 30 students. This perfectly matches the student's need for teacher support and smaller classes. Discussion-based learning with strong faculty mentorship culture and extensive academic support services including Writing Center, tutoring, and accessible office hours. This is an ideal environment for personalized attention.
Applied Learning
9.0 /10
Excellent applied learning with 80%+ of students completing at least one internship. Strong connections to Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area (1 hour away) for internship placements. Hands-on research opportunities available, particularly in psychology. Career services actively facilitates placements with internship grants available. Integration of experiential learning throughout curriculum aligns well with student's practical career preparation needs.
Career Prep
8.0 /10
Strong 85% employment or graduate school placement within 6 months of graduation. Comprehensive Career Services offering counseling, resume/interview prep, job database, networking events, and graduate school advising. Active alumni network of 30,000+ with strong Minnesota presence. Dedicated pre-professional advising for PT and law tracks. Only limitation is geographic focus primarily on Minnesota/Twin Cities region rather than national reach.
Campus Culture
21.0 /30 (70%)
Moderate to strong school spirit with Division III athletics and good attendance at hockey and football games. Strong traditions including Festival of Cultures and Christmas concerts. However, this is more community-focused rather than the high-energy 'rah-rah' sports culture the student may be seeking. 87% retention rate indicates students are satisfied, but the spirit is intimate rather than electric. Not the vibrant, large-scale school spirit typical of bigger universities.
School Spirit
6.0 /10
Moderate to strong school spirit with Division III athletics and good attendance at hockey and football games. Strong traditions including Festival of Cultures and Christmas concerts. However, this is more community-focused rather than the high-energy 'rah-rah' sports culture the student may be seeking. 87% retention rate indicates students are satisfied, but the spirit is intimate rather than electric. Not the vibrant, large-scale school spirit typical of bigger universities.
Social Scene
7.0 /10
Definitely NOT a commuter school - 85%+ students live on campus all four years with active weekend programming, which perfectly matches student's requirement. 100+ student organizations and strong performing arts scene. However, social scene is limited by small enrollment (~3,000 students) and rural location. Social life centers on campus events, outdoor activities, and occasional trips to Twin Cities. More intimate than party-heavy culture. Active but may feel limiting compared to larger urban schools.
Greek Life
8.0 /10
No Greek life present, which creates an inclusive social environment without exclusionary pressures or Greek dominance. Social life centers around residence halls, clubs, athletics, and campus events, which can be positive for students seeking community without Greek culture. Score is high because absence of Greek life means no risk of it overwhelming campus culture, though some students prefer having Greek options available.
Location & Environment
5.0 /20 (25%)
MAJOR MISMATCH: Student wants urban or near city location, but CSB/SJU is definitively rural in small towns (populations 3,500-6,500). St. Cloud is 10-15 minutes away but only has 68,000 population. Minneapolis-St. Paul is 1-1.5 hours away, which is too far for regular urban experiences. Limited public transportation requires having a car. Surrounding area lacks urban amenities, restaurants, and entertainment. While nature access is exceptional (3,200+ acres), this doesn't compensate for the absence of the urban energy and accessibility the student desires. Airport is 1.5 hours away complicating travel.
Location
3.0 /10
MAJOR MISMATCH: Student wants urban or near city location, but CSB/SJU is definitively rural in small towns (populations 3,500-6,500). St. Cloud is 10-15 minutes away but only has 68,000 population. Minneapolis-St. Paul is 1-1.5 hours away, which is too far for regular urban experiences. Limited public transportation requires having a car. Surrounding area lacks urban amenities, restaurants, and entertainment. While nature access is exceptional (3,200+ acres), this doesn't compensate for the absence of the urban energy and accessibility the student desires. Airport is 1.5 hours away complicating travel.
Climate
2.0 /10
SEVERE MISMATCH: Student loves sunshine, but Minnesota has only 93 sunny days per year (approximately 25% of the year). Climate features cold, snowy winters with average January temperature of 8°F, long dark periods, and significant snowfall lasting 5-6 months. While summers are warm and nature access is outstanding for outdoor activities, the harsh winter climate is the opposite of what the student wants. This is a fundamental lifestyle incompatibility that would significantly impact daily happiness and well-being.
Special Requirements
9.0 /10 (90%)
Bennie Dance Team is available with walk-on opportunities through fall auditions. Team performs at basketball games and competes at UDA College Nationals, offering both competitive and spirit squad functions. Contact information readily available through Student Activities Office and Athletics Department. This directly meets the student's special interest requirement. Only minor limitation is the smaller scale compared to larger universities, but opportunity is clearly present and accessible.
Dance Team
9.0 /10
Bennie Dance Team is available with walk-on opportunities through fall auditions. Team performs at basketball games and competes at UDA College Nationals, offering both competitive and spirit squad functions. Contact information readily available through Student Activities Office and Athletics Department. This directly meets the student's special interest requirement. Only minor limitation is the smaller scale compared to larger universities, but opportunity is clearly present and accessible.

Top Strengths 6

  • 1 Perfect student-faculty ratio (11:1) and small classes (avg 19) providing exceptional teacher support the student needs
  • 2 Strong residential campus (85%+ live on campus) - definitively NOT a commuter school with active weekend life
  • 3 Dance team with clear walk-on opportunities through fall auditions and competitive/spirit functions
  • 4 Excellent pre-physical therapy program with dedicated advising and 3+3 DPT partnership
  • 5 Outstanding nature access with 3,200+ acres of forests, lakes, and trails on campus
  • 6 Strong internship programs (80%+ participation) with Twin Cities connections for career preparation

Things to Consider 6

  • 1 CRITICAL: Only 93 sunny days per year with harsh 5-6 month winters (avg Jan temp 8°F) - opposite of student's love for sunshine
  • 2 CRITICAL: Rural location contradicts urban preference - nearest city is 1 hour away, limited surrounding amenities
  • 3 No dedicated marketing major - only available as concentration within Business Management
  • 4 Small enrollment (~3,000) may limit social scene diversity and energy compared to larger schools
  • 5 Moderate school spirit rather than high-energy rah-rah culture student may be seeking
  • 6 Geographic isolation and 1.5-hour airport distance complicates travel and limits spontaneous urban access

Detailed Research

Internships

Strong internship programs with 80%+ of students completing at least one internship. Connections in Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area (1 hour away). Career services facilitates placements.

Avg Class Size

Average class size of 19 students. 90% of classes have fewer than 30 students.

Teaching Style

Primarily discussion-based and collaborative learning. Strong emphasis on faculty mentorship, hands-on research opportunities, and experiential learning. Liberal arts approach with applied components.

Academic Support

Extensive support including Writing Center, Academic Advising Center, peer tutoring, disability services, and faculty office hours. First-year seminar program for transition support.

Career Placement

85% of graduates employed or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation

Program Rankings

  • No formal pre-law major but offers pre-law advising track. Political Science and Philosophy are common paths. Good track record for law school placement.
  • Strong liberal arts-based business program with accounting emphasis. Not ranked by major business publications but accredited. Offers Business Management major and Accounting major.
  • No dedicated marketing major - marketing coursework available within Business Management major
  • Well-regarded psychology program with neuroscience emphasis options. Strong preparation for graduate school with research opportunities.
  • Strong pre-professional program with dedicated advising. Exercise Science/Kinesiology major available. Partnership with St. Scholastica for 3+3 DPT program.

Student Faculty Ratio

11:1

Greek Life

NO Greek life (fraternities/sororities). Social life centers around residence halls, clubs, athletics, and campus events.

Social Scene

Active but relatively small-school social scene. 100+ student organizations. Strong performing arts scene. Social life includes campus events, outdoor activities, and trips to St. Cloud/Twin Cities. More intimate than party-heavy culture.

School Spirit

Moderate to strong school spirit. Division III athletics (NCAA) with good attendance at hockey and football games. Strong traditions including Festival of Cultures, Christmas concerts, and Pines social gatherings. More community-focused than rah-rah sports culture.

Retention Rate

87% freshman retention rate

Graduation Rate

79% six-year graduation rate

Weekend Activity

Active residential campus - 85%+ students live on campus all four years. Weekend programming through Campus Activities Board. NOT a commuter school. Students stay on weekends though some visit Twin Cities.

Political Climate

Moderate to liberal-leaning. Catholic Benedictine values emphasize social justice and community service. Generally inclusive and dialogue-focused environment.

Setting

Rural campus setting. Located in Collegeville/St. Joseph, Minnesota - small towns 10 miles apart (women's campus at CSB in St. Joseph, men's campus at SJU in Collegeville). Connected campuses share all academic and social programming.

Sunny Days

Approximately 93 sunny days per year. Minnesota climate with cold, snowy winters (average January temp 8°F) and warm summers. Long, dark winters with significant snowfall.

Nature Access

Exceptional nature access. 3,200+ acres of forests, lakes, and trails on campus grounds. Lake Sagatagan, extensive hiking/cross-country ski trails, Stella Maris Chapel in woods. Nearby state parks and outdoor recreation.

Transportation

Link bus system connects CSB and SJU campuses (free for students, runs frequently). Limited public transportation to Twin Cities. Most students have cars or carpool. Shuttle services to airport during breaks.

Nearest Airport

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) - approximately 75 miles, 1.5 hours drive

Surrounding Area

St. Joseph and Collegeville are small towns (population ~6,500 and ~3,500). St. Cloud (population ~68,000) is 10-15 minutes away with shopping, restaurants, entertainment. Minneapolis-St. Paul metro is 1-1.5 hours for urban experiences, internships, cultural events.

Dance Team

Dance team available - The Bennie Dance Team. Performs at basketball games and competitions. Open to walk-ons through auditions held in fall. Team competes at UDA College Nationals. Mix of competitive and spirit squad functions.

Recreation

Excellent facilities including: Fitness centers at both campuses, Clemens Fieldhouse, Sexton Commons, indoor pool, outdoor recreation equipment rental, intramural sports (30+ options), club sports, and extensive trail systems for hiking/skiing/running.

Food Quality

Multiple dining halls with various options. Gorecki Dining Hall (CSB) and Refectory (SJU) are main facilities. Features include made-to-order stations, vegetarian/vegan options, local sourcing emphasis. Generally positive student reviews. Meal plan required for residential students.

Campus Beauty

Stunning campuses. SJU features iconic Marcel Breuer architecture including Abbey Church (architectural landmark). CSB has beautiful collegiate gothic buildings. Both campuses feature extensive natural areas, lakes, chapels, and wooded settings. Consistently rated among most beautiful college campuses.

Housing Quality

Guaranteed housing all four years. Mix of traditional residence halls, apartments, and townhouses. Newer facilities include Henrita Hall (CSB) and Flynntown apartments. Single-gender residence halls reflecting Benedictine tradition. Generally well-maintained with residential life programming.

Dance Team Contact

Contact through Student Activities Office at 320-363-5000 or activities@csbsju.edu. Coach information available through Athletics Department.

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Data Quality & Confidence

Confidence Level
HIGH 87/100
Last Updated
Oct 25, 2025
1 week ago
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