The University of St. Thomas reached its highest undergraduate enrollment in a decade this fall, welcoming 6,784 students as demand for a St. Thomas education remains strong.
Total undergraduate enrollment, which includes 6,579 students seeking four-year degrees in addition to the 205 students pursuing two-year degrees at Dougherty Family College (DFC), increased slightly from 6,750 last year.
By the numbers
- St. Thomas welcomed 1,526 new first-year undergraduate students who marched through the Arches in September, including:
- 1,454 students from 30 U.S. states and Puerto Rico seeking four-year degrees.
- 72 first-time, first-year international students from 42 countries.
- DFC welcomed 123 new scholars. Additionally, 49 DFC alums transitioned to St. Thomas’ four-year degree program.
- 265 transfer students began studying at St. Thomas, including 36 international transfer students for a 15% increase over last year.
- The 108 total international students (first-time students and transfers) represent 55 countries.
Combined with 3,086 graduate students (including 779 new grad students), total overall enrollment held steady at 9,870 (compared to 9,876 in 2025).
“Welcoming our largest undergraduate population in a decade demonstrates the enduring appeal of our mission,” said Paul Mueller, vice president for Strategic Enrollment Management. “Today’s students are looking for purpose alongside professional preparation – they want an education that is genuinely ‘all for the common good.’ Reaching these milestones shows that St. Thomas continues to be a premier choice for students driven to make a tangible, positive impact in their communities and careers.”
Leaders at Minnesota’s top private national university point to continued investments in academic excellence, career-connected learning, scholarships and student success as helping sustain demand during a challenging time for higher education across the country.
Nursing, for example, continues to be a fast-growing study area of interest to prospective students. Nearly 180 incoming students have chosen to major in nursing at the Susan S. Morrison School of Nursing, within the Morrison Family College of Health (St. Thomas’ fastest-growing academic unit). Other top majors of the Class of 2030 include:
- Financial management
- Mechanical engineering
- Biology
- Exercise science
Additionally, 34% of the total student population – and a record 38% of the incoming first-time, first-year class – now identifies as Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC).
