Becoming a University

Historical Perspective

This comparison outlines major changes at the College of St. Catherine (CSC) that have transformed it into the comprehensive, complex institution it is today. The institution began its modern-day transformation in 1979, with the founding of Weekend College.

1977-782007-2008
St. Paul campus St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses
2,079 day students5,238 students
  • 2,030 Day Students - 39%
  • 886 Weekend Students - 17%
  • 895 Associate Students - 17%
  • 1,427 Graduate Students - 27%
2,079 students in women-only baccalaureate program2,916 students in women-only baccalaureate program
Women students only Women and men students
Baccalaureate degrees and certificatesAssociate, Baccalaureate, Master’s and Doctoral degrees and certificates
Day formatDay and weekend formats
Semester termsSemester and trimester terms
390 baccalaureate degrees granted547 baccalaureate degrees granted
Top 5 baccalaureate majors earned, including double majors
  • Business Administration - 67
  • Nursing - 60
  • Elementary Education - 45
  • Occupational Therapy - 35
  • Home Economics - 23
(Registrar’s Annual Report 1977-78)
Top 5 baccalaureate majors earned, including double majors
  • Nursing - 106
  • Business Administration - 95
  • Education - 39
  • Communication - 32
  • English - 31
(CSC Fact Book 2007)
Carnegie classification as a Liberal Arts CollegeCarnegie classification as a Comprehensive Master’s 1 Institution
Vision: Local and regional presenceVision: World pre-eminence
Core elements of the mission: Catholic, women, liberal arts Core elements of the mission: Catholic, women, liberal arts
Liberal Arts Core required of baccalaureate graduates Liberal Arts Learning Goals required of all graduates at all degree levels

Decade by Decade: 1978 to 2008
Click here for an-depth look at the specific changes that have transformed the College of St. Catherine over the last three decades.