Founded in 1889 by Benedictine monks of Saint Mary's Abbey, Saint Anselm College is a premier private Catholic liberal arts college located in Manchester, New Hampshire. Spanning a picturesque 450-acre hilltop campus overlooking Manchester and the Merrimack River valley, Saint Anselm connects nursing, political science, criminal justice, humanities, and NCAA Division II athletic traditions. You can examine its Benedictine heritage, founding history, and campus evolution through the Saint Anselm College Wikipedia historical entry.
When you study at Saint Anselm, you enter a values-centered Catholic liberal arts community world-famous for rigorous moral inquiry, national political prominence during presidential primary seasons, and exceptional nursing board pass rates. Living in Manchester places you inside a dynamic New England city while enjoying a serene, collegiate hilltop environment.
Premier Academic Programs
Saint Anselm organizes its undergraduate instruction across specialized academic departments holding top regional rankings:
- Department of Nursing: Nationally recognized nursing program featuring advanced simulation laboratories and clinical placements. Explore degree paths on the Saint Anselm Nursing portal.
- New Hampshire Institute of Politics: Premier national center fostering civic engagement, political debate, and media coverage of presidential primaries. Explore options on the NHIOP portal.
- Department of Criminal Justice: Comprehensive program investigating forensic science, law enforcement, and penal reform.
- Department of Business Administration: AACSB-eligible program focusing on finance, accounting, and ethical leadership.
- Anselmian Abbey Studies: Focuses on philosophy, theology, and classical humanities.
"Pax et Sapientia, translated from Latin as Peace and Wisdom, serves as the guiding motto of Saint Anselm College."
Campus Culture and Mascot
Your daily student experience centers on the Jean Paul Geisser Student Center, the Geisel Library, and the Stoutenburgh Gymnasium. School spirit revolves around Anselm the Hawk, the energetic costumed mascot representing Saint Anselm athletic teams in NCAA Division II competition. You can read about spirit traditions and athletic programs on the official Saint Anselm Hawks Athletics portal. Cheering inside Sullivan Arena for hockey games, attending campus ministry retreats, and joining over 70 student clubs creates an engaging campus culture.
Research Infrastructure and Political Centers
Saint Anselm operates an active undergraduate research framework supported by specialized institutes and campus libraries:
- New Hampshire Institute of Politics Archives: Specialized repository holding historic political memorabilia, primary election polling data, and media archives.
- Science Center Laboratories: Advanced facility supporting undergraduate student research in molecular biology and chemistry. Learn more via Saint Anselm Academic Operations.
- Center for Ethics in Society: Applied research unit examining bioethics, corporate responsibility, and social justice.
Notable Alumni Legacy
,\nYou walk in the footsteps of U.S. Senators, judges, corporate executives, and civic leaders, including:
- John E. Sununu: Former U.S. Senator representing New Hampshire who graduated from Saint Anselm.
- Hugh Gregg: 68th Governor of New Hampshire and prominent civic leader.
- Ray Buckley: Prominent political strategist and public service advocate.
- Mary Louise Kelly: Acclaimed National Public Radio co-host and journalist who studied liberal arts.
Saint Anselm provides generous merit scholarship coverage and financial aid assistance for admitted domestic and international students. Review full admission standards on the official Saint Anselm Admissions portal.