
St. Catherine University began in 1905 as the College of St. Catherine, founded in Saint Paul by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet to expand women's access to higher education. It adopted its current name in 2009, reflecting a broader range of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs.
The institution's history still shapes its identity: it maintains a women-centered undergraduate tradition alongside programs serving adult and graduate students. Applicants should check the eligibility rules for their particular degree rather than assume that every program has the same enrollment policy.
St. Catherine University offers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral study, with a particularly extensive selection of health-related programs. Its academic organization includes the College for Women, the College for Adults, and graduate and professional education; program offerings and eligibility differ among them.
Prospective students can explore nursing, occupational therapy, social work, education, public health, business, the sciences, and humanities and arts fields. A university-level admission offer does not necessarily secure a place in a selective clinical major. Applicants considering nursing or another licensed profession should examine that program's prerequisites, clinical-placement rules, and accreditation separately.
St. Catherine University's principal campus is in Saint Paul, Minnesota, in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Its neighborhood setting gives students access to regional employers, clinical sites, and cultural institutions, but travel time can matter when coursework includes placements away from campus.
The university also has a Minneapolis location associated with some programs. Applicants should confirm where their own classes, laboratories, and clinical experiences take place before making housing or commuting plans. Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport serves the region.
St. Catherine University describes its mission in terms of educating women to lead and influence, grounded in the Catholic tradition of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Its stated priorities include liberal arts learning, social justice, and service to the community.
That religious affiliation is part of the institution's history and educational framework, not a reason to assume that every student shares a faith or that every program has identical requirements. Applicants who want to understand how the mission affects their coursework should review the current general-education and degree requirements for their program.
Name of the institution
St Catherine UniversityLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: LargeInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
Undergraduate: women only, graduate: coedCalendar system
4-1-4Foundation year
1905St Catherine University is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, an accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Accreditation confirms that the school meets quality standards and is required for students to receive federal financial aid.
Certificate of less than 1 year
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Postbaccalaureate certificate
Master's degree
Post-master's certificate
Doctor's degree - professional practiceData last updated on November 5, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.