
The College of Saint Scholastica is a private college founded in Duluth, Minnesota, by the Benedictine Sisters of St. Scholastica in 1912. Its origins in Catholic education help explain the continuing emphasis on liberal arts, service, and preparation for professions such as nursing and teaching.
The college grew from a small women's institution into a coeducational college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees. Its academic offerings expanded beyond its early teacher-education and health-related programs to include business, technology, social sciences, and other fields. The Benedictine community remains part of the institution's identity, although students need not be Catholic to attend.
The College of Saint Scholastica offers liberal arts and professional programs at the bachelor's and graduate levels. Its academic organization includes arts and sciences, nursing, health professions, and business and leadership studies.
Undergraduates can explore fields including biology, psychology, social work, education, computer and information sciences, business, and nursing. Graduate and professional offerings extend into areas such as health care, education, and management. These are different academic paths: a student considering nursing, for example, should examine that program's clinical placement and progression requirements rather than relying only on the college's general admissions rules.
Students comparing majors should use the current academic catalog to check degree requirements, course sequencing, and whether a program is offered in Duluth, online, or in another format. The college's student-to-faculty ratio is reported as 12 to 1, but that institution-wide figure does not predict the size of any particular class.
The College of Saint Scholastica's main campus is in Duluth, Minnesota, on a hillside above Lake Superior. Duluth is a regional center with health care employers, schools, cultural venues, and outdoor recreation, giving students potential options for clinical experiences, internships, and off-campus activities.
Students who commute should account for Duluth's hills and winter weather when planning transportation. Campus parking is available to eligible students, including first-year students, subject to current permit rules. Duluth International Airport serves the area; its schedules and fares may matter to students traveling from farther away.
Not every college program or service necessarily meets on the main campus. Applicants considering an online or other off-campus program should confirm where required classes, labs, and in-person activities take place.
The College of Saint Scholastica describes its educational mission in terms of its Catholic Benedictine heritage, liberal arts learning, and preparation for lives of purpose and service. Its stated values include community, hospitality, respect, stewardship, and a love of learning.
Those commitments describe the college's educational approach, not a required religious identity for students. Prospective students can consider how the mission appears in the curriculum, service opportunities, and campus programming while judging their own fit.
Name of the institution
The College of Saint ScholasticaLevel of institution
Four or more yearsControl of institution
PrivateSetting type
City: SmallInstitutional Category
Degree - granting, primarily baccalaureate or aboveInstitution size category
1,000 - 4,999Religious affiliation
Catholic (Roman Catholic Church)School type
UniversityMain student body
CoeducationalCalendar system
SemestersFoundation year
1912The College of Saint Scholastica 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
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.