•AVERAGE: 69
Part of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities, Saint Joseph’s University is one of the nation’s oldest Jesuit institutions, founded in 1851. The founding of Saint Joseph’s came after a century of worldwide suppression by the Catholic Church, and the United States was one of the few western nations where the Jesuits could practice openly. Saint Joseph’s grew for its first century as a men’s college, opening up to women and becoming a university in the 1970s. The 21st century has seen Saint Joseph’s grow extensively, building nationally-ranked professional programs, and earning recognition as one of the dozen best regional colleges in the North from U.S. News & World Report.
Academic Programs
As Philadelphia, PA’s only Jesuit college, Saint Joseph’s University is deeply engaged with the community and committed to its heritage of academic rigor and spiritual growth. Saint Joseph’s is particularly known for the Haub School of Business, one of the most prestigious business schools in the north, and many of the Haub School’s undergraduate and graduate business programs are ranked in the top 10 and 20 nationally by U.S. News. The Haub School is particularly notable as one of only a handful of business schools in the nation with its own Wall Street trading room, in which classes actually invest and trade on the stock market for experiential learning.Besides the Haub School, Saint Joseph’s is primarily known as an undergraduate educator, with one of the most accomplished faculties in the nation. Nearly all of Saint Joseph’s faculty members hold the highest degree in their field, and a 14:1 student:faculty ratio helps ensure undergraduate mentoring and research opportunities. Nearly 20 specialized research centers, such as the Institute for Catholic Bioethics and the Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support, mean students get access to some of the most current research available. A freshman retention rate of 90% demonstrates Saint Joseph’s dedication to student support.
Student Life
Saint Joseph’s is located in suburban Philadelphia, giving students a quieter, more close-knit campus life than a typical urban university, but students also benefit from all that Philadelphia has to offer. That includes strong ties to the government and industry for internships and employment. A student body of well over 8000 – half of those traditional-aged, residential students – make for an active student life; more than 100 student-led clubs and organizations include everything from religious and devotional groups to honor societies and hobbies. And nearly a quarter of Saint Joseph’s students are part of a fraternity or sorority.The Saint Joseph’s Hawks compete in 20 men’s and women’s NCAA Division I sports as part of the Atlantic 10 conference. There are also nearly two dozen club sports, including roller hockey, judo, ultimate frisbee, and other unusual sports. Saint Joseph’s takes part in the annual Philadelphia 6 Extramural Classic, in which student clubs sports teams from colleges and universities in the Philly metro region compete for the city championship.