Founded in 1912, The College of St. Scholastica is a private Benedictine college located in Duluth, Minnesota. With a focus on liberal arts education, the institution serves a diverse student body, offering undergraduate and graduate programs to approximately 4,000 students. Nestled in a region known for its natural beauty, St. Scholastica spans a 186-acre campus overlooking Lake Superior, wherein students are nurtured in a close-knit academic community with a student-faculty ratio that promotes individual attention and mentorship.
The College of St. Scholastica stands out for its integration of a values-based education emphasizing Benedictine traditions of respect, hospitality, and stewardship. Distinctively, it offers an acclaimed program in Health Informatics and Information Management, which is recognized for pioneering advancements in this field. Furthermore, the college excels in its commitment to service learning; each year, students dedicate thousands of hours to community service, embodying the institution's motto, "Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve." Notably, St. Scholastica's Social Work Program has earned recognition for its specialized curriculum that addresses rural health and social needs, preparing graduates with a unique expertise valued in the region.
The college's impact extends to its achievements, such as consistently ranking high for job placement rates post-graduation, indicative of the practical and effective nature of its career-oriented programs. The nursing program, for instance, is lauded for its state-of-the-art simulation labs and high NCLEX pass rates. On the sustainability front, St. Scholastica has made significant strides, operating with wind energy credits and maintaining a commitment to green initiatives, showcased by its LEED-certified buildings. With an array of undergraduate research opportunities, students often collaborate with faculty, an endeavor that has led to several student presentations at national conferences.
However, The College of St. Scholastica is not exempt from challenges, especially financial. Like many private institutions, it faces the ongoing concern of tuition dependence. The pressure to maintain enrollment numbers-crucial for funding-can lead to fierce competition with both regional and national colleges. Moreover, while the college is well-integrated with the local community, its geographical location in the upper Midwest poses a challenge in attracting out-of-state and international students, who may prefer more urban settings or regions with milder climates. Addressing these issues requires continuous innovation in marketing strategies and program offerings to maintain its reputation and secure its financial future.
