University of St. Thomas (MN) (StT)

Founded in 1885, the University of St. Thomas is Minnesota's largest private university, offering a comprehensive education rooted in the Catholic intellectual tradition and a commitment to the common good. Located in St. Paul, Minnesota, St. Thomas combines the personal attention of a smaller college with the academic opportunities and resources of a university.

With more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students across eight schools and colleges, St. Thomas offers more than 150 undergraduate majors and minors. Students benefit from an engaging academic environment where 100% of classes are taught by faculty, not teaching assistants.

Through hands-on learning, internships, research, study abroad and community engagement, students gain the knowledge and experience to make an impact in their chosen fields. St. Thomas is also Minnesota's only designated Changemaker Campus, reflecting its commitment to social innovation, entrepreneurship and community impact.

As an NCAA Division I university, St. Thomas offers a vibrant campus experience with more than 140 student clubs and organizations, 21 Division I sports teams and opportunities to get involved both on campus and in the surrounding Twin Cities community.

The University of St. Thomas is home to 6,534 undergraduate students, creating a campus community that combines the resources of a university with opportunities for personal connection. Students benefit from a residential campus experience designed to foster connection and belonging. First-year programs, Living Learning Communities and campus activities help students build friendships and find support as they transition to college.

Students represent a wide range of backgrounds, interests and perspectives, with 104 countries and 48 states represented across the university's student body. As a Catholic university that welcomes students of all faiths, St. Thomas encourages students to explore their values, develop as leaders and contribute to the common good.

Students have opportunities to connect with faculty, participate in hands-on learning experiences and become involved in campus activities that support their personal and professional growth.

With more than 140 student clubs and organizations, the University of St. Thomas offers opportunities to get involved, explore interests and build friendships outside the classroom. Students can participate in academic and professional organizations, cultural groups, club sports, performing arts, service initiatives and campus traditions.

Community engagement is central to the St. Thomas experience. Through the Center for the Common Good, students work with community partners on volunteering and civic engagement initiatives. The university community contributes approximately 80,000 hours of impact and volunteering annually.

Students can also explore entrepreneurship through competitions, mentorship and innovation programs open to students of every major. Career Services provides personalized support for internships, mentoring and career planning, while a network of more than 120,000 alumni offers professional connections beyond graduation.

St. Thomas competes in 21 NCAA Division I sports, bringing students together to cheer on the Tommies. Campus life also includes intramural athletics, arts programming, student events and opportunities to explore the Twin Cities.

People at University of St. Thomas are first and foremost “friendly and nice” and “very respectful of each other.” Here, your peers want you to succeed and are “eager to help each other out.” In fact, some even say their student body is one of their “biggest motiving factors.” For many, the student body “energy is very supportive and comforting.” Despite a lack of diversity on campus, students are focused on “always making connections.” Most feel “there are lots of opportunities...for supporting underrepresented identities and magnifying those voices.” Many students are “passionate advocates for inclusivity and representation,” and in recent years, “creating a culture of love and kindness toward one another has been effective at changing the culture on campus and helping everyone feel more included.” Even with the current advancements, some students would like to see further improvement in “diversity and outreach to underrepresented populations,” but still acknowledge that it “is getting better.”

The greatest strengths of St. Thomas would be [its] dedication to making students feel at home through an “impactful focus on building community” among undergrads. As one transfer student puts it, “As soon as I moved in I felt like I found my home.” In their free time, St. Thomas enrollees—affectionately known as “Tommies”—can be found working out at the gym, exploring “neighborhood bars and restaurants” and “[taking] advantage of our numerous coffee shops on campus and off.” The school “offers free transportation to locations all around the Twin Cities,” making it easy to get off campus even without access to a car. In the warmer months, people leverage the “many open grassy areas that allow students to hang out, hammock, play causal games, and even study,” and they’re “able to rent out yard games and other activity supplies either at a low cost or for free.” If organized fun is more your style, “There are a lot of school-sponsored events” featuring “free goodies around campus (such as crafts, T-shirts, [and] food).” Truly, “You’d have to be actively trying to be bored” at St. Thomas.