The Great Books College
St. John’s was founded in 1696, making us the third oldest college in the U.S. — and we remain the most distinct.
At St. John’s, students share a common curriculum where they explore 200+ revolutionary books over the last 3,000 years. Students learn from history’s most significant thinkers: Plato, Shakespeare, Einstein, Austen, and Du Bois, to name a few. In class discussions, we probe world-changing literature, philosophy, math, science, and more, culminating in the interdisciplinary Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts. With a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio, the college regularly ranks among the best for undergraduate teaching and most accessible faculty.
Four years here prepare you for anything, thanks to the rigor and breadth of the learning. The careers of tomorrow call for exactly what St. John’s cultivates: self-driven inquiry and analysis, fearless examination of complex issues, interdisciplinary problem-solving, excellence in writing, and confidence in self-expression. Over 70% of Johnnies attend graduate school; we are ranked #1 for students who pursue PhDs in the humanities and political science, and #15 for students who enroll at the nation’s top law schools.