St. Joseph’s University - Philadelphia, PA

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA,
• Year of foundation: 1851,
• Number of students: about 9000,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: mixed.

St. Joseph's University, Philadelphia, PA (SJU) is a private university with several campuses in Philadelphia, which prepares specialists in sought—after scientific fields in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs.

Founded in 1851 as St. Joseph's College, the university has become the seventh-oldest Jesuit institution in the United States. Today, about 9,000 students study within its walls, some of whom are representatives of other states and abroad. All teachers working at scientific faculties have the highest qualifications and many years of experience working with students: they focus on each student in order to provide personalized support and additional opportunities for obtaining professional knowledge.

The programs are available not only in full-time, but also online, so that those students who cannot come to the United States can receive qualifications.

SJU programs are taught in several faculties:

• Art, science,
• Business
• Education, human development,
• Medical professions,
• Nursing, related medical specialties.

The university has several research centers that work annually to improve the quality of life of the local and international population. They operate in research areas such as:

• Education, support for children with autism,
• Clinical bioethics,
• Insurance, risk management,
• Food Marketing,
• Business ethics,
• Judeo-Catholic relations,
• Faith and justice,
• Fine arts.

The University owns more than ten residences in which freshmen and students of other courses live separately. They are mostly accommodated in fully furnished double rooms with access to shared bathrooms, kitchens, relaxation and self-study areas, and laundries.

There are 11 catering outlets on campus, each offering an extensive menu with special food options, including vegetarian and vegan.

The university has more than 90 student interest groups:

• The Christian Community,
• American Sign Language,
• Visual art,
• Biology,
• Artificial intelligence,
• Literary magazine,
• Italian language,
• Psychology,
• Cinema,
• Dancing and much more.

A lot of attention is paid to sports sections — SJU is one of the universities competing at the NCAA Division I level in athletics. Sports are taught at amateur and more professional levels, which allows students to either simply maintain an active lifestyle or improve their skills to receive awards and scholarships. Competitive sports include football, volleyball, lacrosse, basketball, tennis, and amateur sports include dancing, several types of martial arts, and yoga.

Students who want to develop their creative talents can participate in one of a dozen groups: from a jazz ensemble to choral singing, from a fine art club to a design studio, from a community of journalists to full-fledged members of the literary magazine SJU.

• One of the top five universities in the region according to U.S. News & World Report 2025,
• SJU is in the TOP-50 leading universities in the USA in the list of The Wall Street Journal,
• R2 classification: "High research activity",
• Online programs are regularly included in the lists of the best in the country and the world,
• Several hundred higher education specialties,
• Opportunity to study abroad under an exchange program.

SJU has several studying grounds in Philadelphia: Hawk Hill with an area of 125 acres and University City with an area of 24 acres. Green areas with many recreation areas are adjacent to high-tech educational buildings, including specialized laboratories and studios, computer rooms, lecture halls and specialized libraries. One of the points of pride of SJU is the large number of sports facilities: from small dance studios, martial arts halls to full-scale playing fields and playgrounds. The campuses include residences, more than 10 food outlets, and a medical complex.

The academic calendar includes two semesters.:

• Autumn: September-December,
• Spring: January-May.

In June and August, short-term courses, a session, and additional classes on some programs are conducted. During the year, rest is provided during seasonal holidays, weekends and vacations. Classes are held on weekdays: from Monday to Friday.

The list of additional expenses will include:

• Administrative and registration fees,
• Accommodation, meals on campus,
• Medical insurance, additional services,
• Additional academic support not provided by the curriculum,
• Personal materials,
• Some extracurricular activities, contributions to student communities,
• Personal expenses.

You can apply for admission online and on campus. Applicants need to fill out a form, pay the registration fee and provide documents, then pass an interview and receive an official invitation to study.

Today, the number of SJU graduates working and continuing their careers exceeds 95,000 . Among them there are outstanding personalities who hold high positions in politics, sports, business, art and other fields.

Foreign applicants wishing to enroll in the US higher education programs will be required:

• Personal documents, including passport, financial certificates, medical insurance, visa or residence permit,
• Certificate of full secondary education/Bachelor's degree/Master's degree,
• Personal resume,
• Official transcripts,
• Letters of recommendation from teachers, principals, or mentors,
• Test results confirming the level of English proficiency: TOEFL (from 79), IELTS (from 6.5), Duolingo (from 105) or the equivalent recognized by the university.

SJU offers a number of scholarships, financial support programs for students who are especially successful in their studies and those who are in a difficult life situation. Scholarships cover part of the cost of one-year education, can be extended if high results are maintained and will not require refund. Some of the programs are:

• Sports scholarships,
• Preparatory scholarships for graduate students of Jesuit schools,
• "Legacy Awards" for students who are relatives of SJU alumni.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision