


The University of St. Thomas is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from accreditation or approval of an individual degree program.
Program-level oversight also matters in some fields. Opus College of Business holds AACSB accreditation, the School of Law is approved by the American Bar Association, and social work programs are subject to their own professional accreditation standards. Engineering applicants should check the status of their specific degree program, since accreditation applies to named programs rather than automatically to every engineering major.
Institutional accreditation is relevant to eligibility for federal student aid and can matter when seeking to transfer credits. Neither accreditation nor a completed degree guarantees that another college will accept particular courses or that a state licensing board will approve an applicant. Students pursuing licensure should verify the rules in the state where they intend to practice.
First-year applicants generally apply with a secondary-school record showing high school completion or an equivalent credential. St. Thomas is not an open-admission institution: it reviews applicants' academic preparation and other submitted materials.
Academic transcripts and high school GPA are part of the first-year review. Class rank and recommendations may be considered but are not generally required. SAT and ACT scores are considered when submitted rather than required of every applicant; among enrolled first-year students, 27% submitted ACT scores and 3% submitted SAT scores. Those submission rates are a useful reminder that reported test-score medians describe a subset of the class, not all admitted students.
In the reported admissions cycle, St. Thomas admitted approximately 85% of first-year applicants. That institution-wide rate does not establish an individual applicant's chances or override requirements for a particular program. Applicants educated in a language other than English may need to document English proficiency; the applicable tests and exemptions should be checked against the requirements for their applicant category. First-year, transfer, Dougherty Family College, graduate and professional applications can follow different processes and timelines.
St. Thomas does not charge an application fee for its general undergraduate admission application. Applicants to graduate or professional programs should check the fee shown for their particular program, rather than assuming the undergraduate policy applies.
An application fee is different from an enrollment deposit, which a college may request after admission. If a program or application route displays a charge that an applicant cannot afford, the appropriate admissions office can explain whether a waiver is available and how to request it before submission.
Students can explore Air Force ROTC at St. Thomas and Army or Navy ROTC through cooperating institutions. The distinction matters because participation through a partner may require travel to another campus for some training or classes.
Air Force ROTC has a unit associated with the St. Thomas campus. Army and Navy ROTC opportunities are available through cross-enrollment arrangements in the Twin Cities. ROTC coursework, scholarship applications and eligibility rules are separate from ordinary university admission. Participation can eventually involve a military service obligation, particularly for scholarship recipients or students who contract with a service branch. Applicants should confirm the current host-unit arrangement, transportation expectations and commitment terms with the relevant ROTC program.
St. Thomas accepts applications from students who have attended another college and generally considers credit earned at accredited institutions for transfer. Transfer applicants can enter in fall or spring, but admission and credit acceptance are separate decisions.
Applicants should be prepared to submit official transcripts from every college attended and to provide high school records if their circumstances require them. The university evaluates courses for transferability and then determines how accepted credits fit a St. Thomas degree. A course can transfer as credit without satisfying a particular major or general-education requirement.
St. Thomas also recognizes some examination-based credit, including AP and CLEP, subject to its credit policies. Before enrolling, a transfer student should request an official credit evaluation and ask the intended department about prerequisite sequences, minimum grades and credits that must be completed at St. Thomas. Those questions are especially important for tightly sequenced majors and students hoping to graduate on a particular timeline.
St. Thomas offers international study options that can include semester programs and shorter, often faculty-led courses. The university also has a Rome presence associated with its Bernardi Campus, while other opportunities may involve partner programs or approved providers.
The practical question is not simply where a student can go, but how a program fits their degree. Students should obtain academic approval for courses in advance, especially if they need a specific major requirement rather than elective credit. Costs, housing, visas and the applicability of scholarships or other financial aid can differ between a university-run program and an outside provider. Study-abroad advising can help students compare those terms before committing.
21% of admitted students enrolled (1,737 of 8,343)
Regular application deadline
January 15Early Decision
NoEarly Action
Yes, deadline November 1Median composite SAT score
1250Median composite ACT score
25Percent of students submitting ACT scores
27%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
3%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
YesSecondary school GPA
RequiredSecondary school rank
Considered but not requiredSecondary school record
RequiredCompletion of college-preparatory program
Neither required nor recommendedRecommendations
Considered but not requiredFormal demonstration of competencies
Neither required nor recommendedAdmission test scores
Considered but not requiredTOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language
RequiredOther Test (Wonderlic, WISC-III, etc.)
Neither required nor recommendedOpen admission policy
NoDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
NoAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit on campusStudy abroad
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
YesPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, SpringData 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.