I have seen families fall in love with a college because of a single figure—an admission rate, a beautiful name, a campus photo—only to discover months later that they had not seen the rest of the picture. Here I am going to give you the complete picture, with the numbers exactly as St. John's College reported them to the federal government. You decide what to do with them.
What kind of school it is, in a few words
St. John's College is in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in an area the government classifies as rural, near a city but outside a large urban area. It is a private, nonprofit, four-year institution, and although it reports offering master's-level study, it is primarily an undergraduate school. The system that classifies US colleges describes it as an arts-and-sciences-focused college that is selective, very small, and highly residential: this means that, at the time of that report, at least half of its undergraduate students lived in institution-owned housing and at least 80 out of every 100 attended full time.
If your family does not live near Santa Fe, moving is almost certainly part of the plan. And if “highly residential” automatically makes you think about the cost of living there, be careful: room and board are almost never included in the number you see first in the brochure. They are charged separately, and you need to request those costs separately before comparing this school with any other.
St. John's College has none of the three special designations the government tracks: it is not a historically Black college or university, a tribal college or university, or a land-grant institution. The federal directory contains 3,012 colleges and universities; the count carrying at least one of those three labels is 138. St. John's College not being among them says nothing about which communities it serves or how your child will feel there. Ask directly: what cultural centers currently exist, what student organizations are available, and whether it is possible to speak with someone who already studies there.
A very small community
This is where St. John's College differs from almost any other college your family may be considering: it is truly small. Its official fall enrollment count was 447 in total—369 undergraduates and 78 graduate students—placing it in the band below 1,000. Compared with the 941 selective private four-year schools that report this figure, it is among the smallest: the share of those schools with higher enrollment is at least nine out of every ten.
That does not make it better or worse. But it does change a question you should ask: whether courses in the field your child is interested in are offered every semester or only once a year. That affects how long it takes to finish.
Among undergraduates in fall 2023, the Hispanic or Latino share was 12 out of every 100—a small minority, although the figure ranked above the midpoint among the 941 selective private schools in this census that report the data, without reaching the highest quartile. The undergraduate population was almost evenly divided between men and women, with women accounting for 48 out of every 100. Students ages 25 through 64 were few: 7 out of every 100. As for where incoming students came from, IPEDS simply does not provide that information for this school in the reported cycle.
One important limitation of these comparisons: they are constructed by school type and control, not by state. They do not account for the part of the country where the college is located, and that matters here. They also do not go down to the program level. They are percentages for the school as a whole.
Academics: a single path, with very few students per instructor
Here is the figure that should most catch your attention if your child is still not completely sure what to study—or is completely sure and wants to confirm that it matches what this school offers.
In the most recent year reported, St. John's College awarded a total of 59 bachelor's degrees. Every one—59 in total—came from a single academic family: liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities. Nationwide, the number of institutions or reporting groups awarding bachelor's degrees in that same family is 869. Compared with the 942 selective private schools in this census, St. John's College falls in the quartile with the fewest academic families represented in its reported bachelor's-degree detail.
Having nearly the entire offering concentrated in one area does not mean it is the best option, nor does it mean it is a bad one. Nor does that fact alone confirm the school's current offerings or require your child to change institutions if another field is the goal: you need to verify the programs currently available. What I can tell you very clearly is this: if your child has a very specific major in mind—engineering, business, nursing—this is exactly the time to ask about that specific program, request the curriculum, find out how many people graduated from it last year, and ask how easy it is to get the necessary classes.
The academic calendar is organized by semesters, two periods of approximately 15 weeks each. Regarding special credit upon admission, the school marked “none of the above” in 2023: it did not indicate that it awards credit for life experience or AP examinations, and it also does not enroll high school students in college-credit courses. Confirm these policies in writing before assuming anything about dual credit or other transfer pathways.
Now for the figure that often surprises families: the student-to-instructor ratio is 7 to 1. It is one of the lowest ratios you will see reported at any college and places St. John's College in the lowest quartile among the 941 similar schools in this census. But that figure alone does not measure instructor availability, class size, or individual attention. It relates full-time equivalents; it does not count seats in a classroom. Ask directly how many students are in first-year classes.
Admissions: it is not open admission, and writing is required
St. John's College does not have open admission. Among the nine admission considerations the government tracks—not counting standardized tests or legacy status—it marks three as required: the high school record, the personal essay, and an English proficiency examination for applicants to whom it applies. Other elements are not required but are considered if submitted: GPA, class rank, the academic course plan completed, letters of recommendation, a portfolio or work sample, and work experience.
Simply put, gathering paperwork is not enough here. The essay is required, so your child has to write, and it is best to start in the summer, not the week before the deadline. The first draft is never the one that gets submitted. The undergraduate application fee, incidentally, is listed as $0.
In the most recent cycle, St. John's College's first-time applicant pool numbered 463, and offers of admission went to 229. The admitted share was 49 out of every 100 applicants—a rate that places it on the selective side compared with the 942 selective private schools in this census: seven out of ten of those schools, or more, accepted a larger percentage of their applicants. On the other side of that calculation, the number of applicants who did not receive an offer was 234. That percentage does not distinguish among those who were rejected, placed on a waiting list, or withdrew their applications. And it is a school-wide figure: if your child is pursuing a specific program, you need to request that program's rate directly from admissions.
Here is a figure worth keeping in mind: among students admitted for the most recent first-year class, only 34 out of every 100 ultimately enrolled. The remaining 66 had acceptance letters in hand and did not attend. This is a relatively high rate compared with its peers—at most of those schools, a smaller share of admitted students stays—but what matters for your family is this: receiving the letter is not the same as deciding to attend. This percentage does not measure quality, prestige, or whether people left satisfied. When your child's admission decisions arrive, place the letters side by side and compare net price, program, and distance before the deposit deadline.
The SAT and ACT are not required. If your child submits them, they are considered; if not, the application remains valid. Among students who did enroll, the share submitting SAT scores was 47 out of every 100—a high proportion compared with colleges of the same type. Among those who submitted scores, the middle half scored between 680 and 750 in reading and writing, and between 580 and 700 in mathematics. But those ranges describe students who had already enrolled and submitted scores, not all applicants, and they do not prove that the scores were decisive. That 680 is not a minimum, and that 750 guarantees nothing.
Regarding transfers: among the bachelor's-degree-seeking class that entered in 2017, the share that transferred before finishing here and enrolled at another institution was 21 out of every 100. This is a common proportion compared with similar schools, neither among the highest nor the lowest. Changing schools is not failing, but it is still helpful for your child to know in advance how to request the paperwork needed to leave if necessary. On the other hand, very few students arrive at St. John's College as transfers: transfer enrollment in the most recent fall count was just 10.
The sticker price: high and all-inclusive
At St. John's College, for the population of first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students receiving federal Title IV aid whose EFC records showed family income below $30,000—with 10 in the group—the average net price was $14,669. For the same population with EFC family income from $48,001 through $75,000—with 8 in the group—it was $18,836; for the same population with EFC family income above $110,000—with 18 in the group—it was $35,017. For dependent students, the band combines their parents' income with their own.
The difference between the average for the lowest-income band, with 10 in that group, and the average for the highest-income band, with 18 in that group, is $20,348. These are group averages, not a prediction of your family's price. Among first-year students who received any grant or scholarship, the average was $28,368.
The average net price for families in the lowest-income band was $14,669 in academic year 2022-23. That does not mean it is what your family will pay. It helps you determine whether it is worth requesting the aid letter.
Because the price changes so much from one income band to another, correctly identifying yours comes first. The income bands in this profile describe first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal Title IV aid; at public institutions, they use the in-state or in-district rate. The overall average with aid, when shown, describes first-time, full-time, credential-seeking students who received federal, state, local, or institutional grants or scholarships. The aid letter sent to you is what governs.
Financial aid and loans: almost everyone receives something
At St. John's College, the share of degree-seeking students receiving a grant or other aid that does not have to be repaid is 97 out of every 100. That is the norm here, not the exception. Among recipients, the annual average was $29,311—real money, but not a price: what matters is the amount remaining after aid, and you must request that figure from each school. Pell, the federal aid program for low-income families, reached 24 out of every 100 students.
Regarding loans: the share of undergraduates receiving a federal loan in the most recent school year was 43 out of every 100—more than two out of ten, but less than half. This is a low proportion compared with similar schools: seven out of ten of those schools, or more, had a larger proportion of students with loans. Among those who did borrow, the average amount each received that year was $6,474.
I want to be direct with you here: this percentage describes other families, not yours. This figure does not determine which group your child will fall into—the group that borrowed nothing or the group that did. The financial aid letter received in writing determines that. And that average of $6,474 covers only one year and only federal loans in the student's name. It does not include Parent PLUS loans that parents sometimes sign for, bank debt, or credit card debt. Nor is it the total debt someone has upon graduation; calculating that would require adding every year, and that figure is not in this report. The institution also reports offering an installment tuition payment plan.
The campus: housing yes, sports no, ROTC not reported
St. John's College has institution-controlled housing, with a maximum reported student capacity of 374. Not all first-time, full-time students are required to live there—but that does not mean no program has such a requirement; ask about the specific rule for your child's year and program. It also offers meal plans, with a fixed number of meals per week in the largest plan. The presence of housing does not guarantee an available bed: request the rate for the year, the application deadline, and whether a place is guaranteed or applicants are placed on a waiting list.
Regarding ROTC, the school did not mark any opportunity in its most recent report—neither the general box nor any of the three service branches—while the count among four-year institutions that did was 926 out of 1,786. That does not prove there is no nearby option; it says only that none was marked in that field. If that scholarship matters to your family, ask about it directly before ruling it out.
In sports, St. John's College reports that it does not participate in intercollegiate athletics and does not belong to any national athletic association—neither NCAA nor NAIA nor any of the other five tracked. If sports are part of your child's plan, this information matters. Ask whether there are intramural leagues or clubs; a club is not the same as a varsity team.
Regarding instructional format, St. John's College offers distance education, but not at the undergraduate level—precisely the level at which your child would enter. In the most recent count, zero undergraduate students took all their classes remotely. Do not count on online classes to accommodate your child's schedule.
The library operates with paid staff, and its annual expenditures reached the $100,000 threshold tracked by the government. The collection includes physical and digital materials, and interlibrary lending is available. Who provides assistance, during which hours, and whether someone can guide your child through research—that is not included in the data. Ask.
Finally, the institution reports combined academic and career counseling services, employment services for current students, placement services for graduates, participation in the Yellow Ribbon program, and a published web address for services for people with disabilities. The reporting of these services does not by itself establish their quality or effectiveness; ask about that and verify it during the visit.
How many stay, how many graduate
For the class entering in fall 2022, the count of first-time, full-time, bachelor's-degree-seeking students was 88, and the number meeting the official retention criterion was 69: they were still enrolled there or had already graduated. That is 78 out of every 100, ranking slightly above the midpoint among the 930 selective private schools in this census. The source does not separate how many of those 69 are still studying from how many have already graduated, nor does it explain what happened to the other 19. Two important things this figure does not say: it counts only those who began as bachelor's-degree-seeking students, and not returning is not the same as dropping out—someone who transferred to another college and remains enrolled there is counted the same as someone who left school.
Regarding graduation: from a cohort totaling 70, whose members began in 2017, the number who had graduated from this school within six years was 42. That is 60 out of every 100—below the midpoint among the 920 similar schools in this census. At four years, the figure is 39 out of every 100: 21 percentage points lower than at six years. And four years is exactly the timeframe most families budget for. That gap of 21 percentage points does not tell you how many semesters each person attended or what happened to tuition during that extra time. Before signing anything, request in writing how long the program your child is interested in typically takes, how its required courses are scheduled, and how the total cost changes if it takes more than four years.
There is a broader eight-year measure that follows a cohort totaling 112, whose members entered between July 2015 and June 2016: by the August 2023 cutoff, the share with a degree or certificate from this school was 63 out of every 100. Among Pell grant recipients, the figure was 62 out of every 100—virtually the same. The share listed as “had not received a credential from this institution” under the government indicator was 21 out of every 100, although a contradiction in how that group is defined means the figure cannot establish precisely how many were still enrolled on that exact date. Unknown enrollment status accounted for another 16 out of every 100: the report simply did not determine whether they remained enrolled anywhere. Unknown does not mean they were not studying; it means that information is not known.
What is up to you, what is up to your child, what is up to the school
It is up to St. John's College to admit students, award financial aid, and provide what it reports that it provides. It is up to your child to write the essay, decide whether this academic concentration is a good fit, and build their part of the application. The money is up to you: complete the FAFSA, request the aid letter in writing, compare the actual net price—not the sticker price—across the options your child has on the table, and ask about everything these data do not answer: the actual cost of housing, the actual length of the program, the current program offerings, and Latino life on campus if that matters to your family.
No figure in this article decides for you. The admission rate of 49 out of every 100 does not tell you whether your child will be admitted. The price of $55,824 does not tell you what you will pay. The concentration in a single academic family does not tell you whether the program your child wants exists today. What I can tell you is that you now know this piece of the puzzle in as much depth as the official data allow, without embellishment or unnecessary alarm.
Combine it with what your child wants to study, what they have built so far, and what your family can and is willing to pay. A real plan comes from that combination—not from a single figure.
Source: This information comes from IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and the US Department of Education, with data corresponding to the 2022-23 and 2023-24 cycles, depending on the indicator. Best College Aid does not represent St. John's College or the US government; this article organizes and explains official public information.