Acceptance Rate
78%
Avg. SAT
1278
75th percentile
“Nestled in New Hampshire's largest city, Saint Anselm College blends Benedictine spirituality with gritty political debates and hands-on nursing training for students who crave community over chaos.”
Manchester, NH
Location
Midsize Suburb
Campus Setting
You step onto Saint Anselm's Gothic-inspired campus knowing you've entered a world shaped by Benedictine monks who founded it in 1889 amid anti-Catholic tensions in Europe, transforming a Manchester hillside into a bastion of Catholic liberal arts education. This small college, with just under 2,000 undergrads, draws students who thrive in tight-knit, faith-infused environments—think disciplined yet compassionate types eager for personal mentorship and service trips, not the anonymous bustle of massive state schools. The school's personality radiates quiet conviction: daily Masses mingle with prep for the nation's first-in-the-nation presidential primary, hosted right here at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Manchester, a gritty midsize city rebounding from mill-town roots, offers dive bars, minor-league hockey, and quick drives to Boston or the White Mountains, but tradeoffs hit hard—limited nightlife, chilly isolation in winter, and a student body that's overwhelmingly white and Catholic, which might chafe if you seek urban diversity or secular vibes.
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Admissions
Acceptance Rate
Test Policy
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Average GPA
Application Fee
Academics
Student-Faculty Ratio
Programs Offered
Full-Time Faculty
Women Faculty
Research Spending
Degree Levels Offered
In Saint Anselm's seminar-style classrooms, where your 11:1 student-faculty ratio means professors know your name from day one, you'll dissect philosophy through St. Anselm's own ontological argument for God's existence or simulate emergency rooms in the nursing program's cutting-edge labs. The politics and government major stands out, fueled by the Featherman Center's real-world debates with presidential hopefuls, while nursing and business pull in practical-minded students with co-ops at Dartmouth-Hitchcock and strong ROI in New England's job market. Research opportunities abound for undergrads, from biology fieldwork in nearby forests to policy internships during primary season, fostering a thoughtful, discussion-driven culture rooted in Catholic social teaching—but don't expect the research intensity of an Ivy; here, teaching trumps grants, and core requirements in theology and philosophy demand commitment from skeptics.
Student Body
Total Enrollment
2,094 undergrad • 17 grad
Undergraduate
Graduate
International
White
87%
Black / African American
1%
Hispanic / Latino
4%
Asian
1%
Other / Multi-racial
6%
Campus Life
Campus Setting
Manchester, NH
Varsity Athletics
NCAA Athletics
A typical week at Saint Anselm unfolds in rhythmic familiarity: morning classes give way to afternoon club meetings—perhaps prepping for the college's award-winning Model UN—or pickup hoops at the Livingston Recreation Center, followed by Friday night hockey games where the Hawks' purple-clad fans pack the stands. Residential life centers on traditional dorms and themed houses, with 90% of students living on campus, fostering bonds through mandatory hall Masses and spontaneous bonfires, but the social scene stays wholesome: think trivia nights and service retreats over ragers, suiting introverts and faith-focused extroverts alike. Traditions like the spring May Crowning procession add whimsy, yet challenges loom—harsh New Hampshire winters trap you indoors, the small size amplifies cliques, and the tame party culture (Greek life is absent) might frustrate those craving big-school energy.
Housing
On-Campus Housing
Housing Capacity
Meal Plan Available
Average Room & Board
Athletics
Athletic Association
Northeast 10 Conference
ROTC & Veteran Support
Army
Yes
Navy
No
Air Force
Yes
Veteran’s Programs Available
Yellow Ribbon Program (Post-9/11 GI Bill)
Yes
Dedicated point of contact for veteran support services
Yes
Cost & Aid
In-State Tuition
Out-of-State Tuition
Room & Board
Estimated Cost
Financial Aid
Students Receiving Aid
Receiving Pell Grants
Average Grant
Average Federal Loan
Net Annual Cost by Household Income
Household Income
Avg. Net Cost
$0 – $30K
$22,189
$30K – $48K
$27,013
$48K – $75K
$28,556
$75K – $110K
$31,488
$110K+
$35,961
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Outcomes & Earnings
Retention Rate
88%
4 Years Graduation Rate
74%
6 Years Graduation Rate
78%
Median 10-Year Earnings
$73,371
88% of first-time, full-time students complete their freshman year at Saint Anselm College and return in the fall. 74% of first-time, full-time students graduate in 4 years, and 78% graduate within 6 years.
Graduation Rate
4-year grads
74%
4-6 years
4%
Non-grad
22%
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Key Statistics
Type
Private
Tuition
$43,940
Acceptance
78%
Undergrads
2,094
4-Year Grad Rate
74%
Endowment
$99M
Manchester, NH 03102-1310