The College of St. Benedict (CSB) is located in downtown St. Joseph. St. John's University is located a few miles away in Collegeville Township.

The College of St. Benedict (for women) and St. Johns University (for men) are nationally recognized Catholic liberal arts colleges and ranked as two of the top three Catholic colleges in the nation. They share an academic program with students attending classes on both campuses.

CSB/SJU are among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the Washington Monthly's 2012 rankings. Schools are rated on their contribution to the public good in three broad categories: social mobility, research, and service.

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University have been recognized nationally in the U.S. News and World Report 2013 college rankings. Both CSB and SJU were again ranked among the top 100 liberal arts colleges in the country.

CSB/SJU is listed in "The Princeton Review's Guide to 322 Green Colleges: 2012 Edition" as an institution of higher education that "demonstrates notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities, and career preparation."