St. John's University (New York City)

St. John's Universityis aprivateCatholic university inQueens, New York City, United States. It was founded in 1870 by theCongregation of the Mission(C.M., the Vincentian Fathers) with a mission to provide the youth of New York with a Catholic university education.Originally located in theBrooklynborough of New York City, the flagship campus was moved to its current location in the Queens borough during the 1950s.St. John's has an additional New York City campus inManhattan. The university'sStaten Islandcampus closed in May of 2024.Additionally, the university has international campuses located inRome, Italy;Paris, France;andLimerick, Ireland.
St. John's is organized into five undergraduate schools and sixgraduate schoolsoffering more than 100 bachelor, master, and doctoral degree programs as well as professional certificates.  In 2019, the university had 17,088 undergraduate and 4,633 graduate students. The student body represents 46 states, District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and 119 countries. As of 2020, St. John's alumni total more than 190,000 worldwide.
St. John's University was founded in 1870, by theVincentian Fathersof theCatholic Churchin response to an invitation by the first Bishop of Brooklyn,John Loughlin, to provide the youth of the city with a Catholic intellectual and moral education. Originally established as the College of St. John the Baptist, the first campus was located at 75 Lewis Avenue, inBedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.  Ground was broken for St. John's College Hall, the university's first building, on May 28, 1868. The cornerstone was laid on July 25, 1869.It opened for educational purposes on September 5, 1870.
St. John's Vincentian values stem from the ideals and works ofSt Vincent de Paul, who is the patron saint ofChristian charity. Following the Vincentian tradition, the university seeks to provide an education that encourages greater involvement in social justice, charity, and service.The Vincentian Center for Church and Society, located on the university's Queens campus serves as "a clearinghouse for and developer of Vincentian information, poverty research, social justice resources, and as an academic/cultural programming center".
The St. John's University Seal bears one phrase in Latin and one in Greek. The Latin phrases "Sigillum Universitatis Sti Joannis Neo Eboraci" translates in English to "Seal of St. John's University, New York". The Greek phrase translates to "A lamp, burning, and shining", a reference to the way Jesus describes St. John the Baptist in John 5:35.The University Crest bears the Latin phrase "Educatio Christiana Animae Perfectio", which translates to "A Christian education perfects the soul".
As a Catholic school run by the Vincentians, clergy can be found in positions within the administration, faculty, and spiritual staff. Crosses adorn many rooms and buildings throughout the campus and the university maintains close ties to the Catholic Church.
Beginning with the law school in 1925, St. John's began establishing other graduate and undergraduate schools, and became a university in 1933. In April 1936, St. John's bought the Hillcrest Golf Club's 100 acres (40 ha) of land for about $500,000, with the intention of eventually moving the school to the new site.Under the terms of the sale, the golf club continued to operate on the site for a few years.On February 11, 1954, St. John's officially broke ground on a new campus inHillcrest, Queens, on the former site of the Hillcrest Golf Club.During the official groundbreaking ceremony, the shovel used was the same shovel that had broken ground on the original campus in 1868.The following year, the original school of the university, St. John's College, moved from Bedford-Stuyvesant to the new campus. (The old campus would change ownership over the years and remains extant but has been converted to residential use.)
Over approximately the next two decades, the other schools of the university, which were located at a separate campus at 96 Schermerhorn Street inDowntown Brooklyn, moved out to the new campus in Queens. The last of the schools to relocate to Queens moved there in 1972, bringing an end to the Downtown Brooklyn campus of the university. In 1959, the university established a Freedom Institute to provide lectures and programs that would, in the words of university president John A. Flynn, focus "attention on the dangers of communism threatening free institutions here and abroad," with Arpad F. Kovacs of the St. John's history department as its director.(A volume of lectures given at the Freedom Institute was edited by Kovacs and published in 1961 asLet Freedom Ring.) The university also hired the noted historian Paul Kwan-Tsien Sih to establish an Institute of Asian Studies in that same year,and similarly set up a Center for African Studies under the directorship of the economic geographerHugh C. Brooks.
The university received praise fromTime Magazinein 1962 for being a Catholic university that acceptedJewswith low household income.Timealso ranked St. John's as "good−small" on a list of the nation's Catholic universities in 1962.
On January 27, 1971, theNew York State Board of Regentsapproved the consolidation of the university with the formerNotre Dame College (New York), a privatewomen's college, and the Staten Island campus of St. John's University became a reality. Classes began in the fall of 1971, combining the original Notre Dame College with the former Brooklyn campus of St. John's, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, business and education.The Grymes Hill campus on Staten Island was closed in 2024.
Circa 1989, according to Steve Fishman ofNew York Magazine, "St. John's was essentially a commuter school" but that changed after Father Donald Harrington became the president of the university that year, replacing Father Joseph Cahill. Under Harrington the school increased its infrastructure and international profile.By 1990 the tuition and fees at St. John's was less than half of that at schools like NYU and Columbia.Moreover, in 1999, the university completed the first residence halls on the main Queens campus, making it easier for out-of-state and international students to attend the flagship campus.The university is now entering a new chapter under the leadership of Brian Shanley.Shanley is the former president ofProvidence Collegeand is credited in bringing much growth to the college.
Beginning in 1995, the university began a series of acquisitions lasting for the following 22 years and establishing new locations throughout New York and the world.
TheSt. John's University strike of 1966–1967was a protest by faculty at the university which began on January 4, 1966, and ended in June 1967.The strike began after 31 faculty members were dismissed in the fall of 1965 without due process, dismissals which some felt were a violation of the professors' academic freedom. The strike ended without any reinstatements, but led to the widespread unionization of public college faculty in the New York City area. In 1970 arbitrators ruled that the university had not acted improperly.
In 2010 federal prosecutors arrested Cecilia Chang, dean of the school's Institute of Asian Studies, and charged her with embezzling money from the university, bribing students with scholarships in exchange for forced labor, tax evasion, and false statements to federal agents.Chang, a graduate-school alumna fromTaiwanwho naturalized in 1989, began directing the Asian Center and acted as a fundraiser in 1977.On Monday, November 5, 2012, she testified in her own trial and committed suicide at age 59 the next day.Anne Hendershot ofCrisis Magazinewrote that the information revealed that described Chang giving material benefits to other members of the administration was "even more damaging to the reputation of St. John's University."
St. John's University is a Catholic non-profit organization controlled by privately appointedboard of trusteeswhich is chosen by the Vincentian order. Brian J. Shanley is the 18th and current president of the university, and Aidan R. Rooney is the executive vice president.
Prior Presidents include:
Per the university's statutes, presidents must be priests from theCongregation of the Mission(Vincentians). The trustees waived this requirement due to the limited number of candidates. In 2014, Conrado Gempesaw, became the first ever lay person to be appointed President of St. John's University and in 2021, Brian Shanley became the first non-Vincentian Catholic priest appointed president. Shanley is a member of theDominican Order.
St. John's is a large doctoral/research university. The school is accredited by theMiddle States Commission on Higher Educationand has 13 specialized accreditations.
The university is organized into six colleges and schools:
Size: In fall 2019, St. John's student body numbered 21,721 students (17,088 undergraduates and 4,633 graduate students). In 2019, there were 3,135 new undergraduates—the largest freshman class at any US Catholic college or university. Students came from 46 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, and 119 countries.The freshman retention rate was 84 percent. In 2016, the university conferred more than 4,000 undergraduate and graduate degrees.
Admission: In 2019, St. John's received 27,000 applications for freshman admission, with an anticipated enrollment of more than 3,000 students. With an admission rate of 72%, St. John's is considered 'more selective' by U.S. News & World Report.Half the applicants admitted had SAT scores between 1080 and 1300.
Diversity: St. John's University is considered one of the most diverse colleges in the United States.27% of the students are minorities; there is a scholarship fund promoting diversity of over $1.6 million.St. John's operates an Equity & Inclusion Council, the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion, Inclusivity Resource Center, Academic Center for Equity and Inclusion, Respond and Partner to Engage our Community Team (RESPECT), as well as providing a resource division for LGBTQ+ students.The school actively promotes homeless student enrollment and in general has an emphasis on enrolling students from less favorable financial circumstances.Committed to its mission of providing affordable education, in 2019 St. John's offered 100% of incoming students scholarships averaging $23,546 per student.
St. John's employs 1,471 full-time and part-time faculty members, more than 92 percent of whom possess a doctorate or other terminal degree in their field. The student-to-faculty ratio is 17:1; five University faculty members were featured inThe Princeton Review's“Best 300 Professors.”Although the majority of the faculty and staff of St. John's are non-clergy academics, the school does have a significant number of priests, religiousbrothersandsisterswho are professors/academics in various fields. Although a Catholic institution, the university also employs a number of non-Catholic faculty.
In the 2021U.S. News & World Reportranking of "National Universities", St. John's undergraduate program was ranked tied for 170th overall in the nation, tied for 39th out of 389 in "Top Performers on Social Mobility", tied for 124th out of 142 in "Best Colleges for Veterans", and 142nd out of 180 in "Best Value Schools".
The School of Law was ranked 84th for 2023. The School of Education ranked tied for 105th in the U.S. byU.S. News & World Reportfor 2021.
Forbesranked St. John's 407th on its "America's Top Colleges" list in 2019 out of the 650 best private and public colleges, universities and service academies.In order to be considered for the rankings, the school had to qualify as one of the top 15% of the 4,300 degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the US.
Though a Catholic institution, the students are of all faiths.St. John's offers and funds, through the Student Government, more than 180 academic, professional, and recreational student organizations, as well as the St. John's Bread and Life program which is dedicated to serving the poor by providing food, services, and support resources. Mass is held on the Queens Campus three times daily and the sacrament of confession is available daily. There are many devotions held at the university as well, such as Adoration, the Rosary and Miraculous Medal Novena.The Student Government also works to host many notable guest speakers throughout the academic year.
St. John's does not allow fraternity and sorority residences like most schools, rather offering them as clubs. There are 32 recognized fraternity and sorority chapters at St. John's.
Founded in 1994, the Dr. M.T. Geoffrey Yeh Art Gallery is the university's art exhibition space.The Yeh Art Gallery partners with international contemporary artists to create exhibitions and learning opportunities for the university community and public.
St. John's University locations:
Jamaica, Queens:Hillcrest, Queens – The main campus of St. John's University is located in the residential Hillcrest section of the borough of Queens of New York City. This 105-acre (0.42 km) campus houses several academic buildings, 8 residence halls, athletic facilities, and the St. Augustine Library. The Queens campus features stone buildings and student residence halls. Facilities include laboratory and classroom buildings, the main collections of its 1.7 million-volume library; and athletic facilities for students and St. John's Division I athletic teams.  The University Center is the 127,000 square foot, five story D'Angelo Center, which features banquet space, classrooms, club space, a food court, game rooms, lecture halls, and a first floor lounge.
Branch campuses:
Former branch campuses:
In 2008, St. John's University broke ground for the new University Center/Academic Building, one of the largest and most comprehensive construction projects in St. John's recent history. Located between Sullivan Hall and the Taffner Field House on the site that currently serves as stadium seating for lacrosse and track and field events, the 110,000 square feet (10,000 m) complex contains 14 classrooms with approximately 800 seats. In addition, it includes a café, lounge, recreation and entertainment spaces, student organization offices and conference and meeting rooms devoted exclusively to student use. The building is named "The D'Angelo Center" after board of trustees member Peter D'Angelo '78 MBA, and his wife Peg D'Angelo '70 Ed.
In 2005, St. John's constructed Taffner Field house, and dramatically renovated Carnesecca Arena (formerly Alumni Hall) and the University Center. Renovations to Carnesecca Hall included a 6,400 sq ft (590 m). Health Center, for use by Student Life and athletics, including weight training equipment, aerobic and dance studios, and a student lounge. The University Center renovations consisted of reconfigured office and meeting space for Student Life and academic clubs, and the addition of audio/visual rooms for all varsity athletic teams. Taffner Athletic Field House was $23 million initiative. The two-story, 38,000 sq ft (3,500 m). structure adjacent to Carnesecca Hall includes four basketball courts, academic classrooms and locker rooms.
The 2004–2005 academic years saw $35 million in capital projects, including the completion of St. Thomas More church, the DaSilva building, Carnesecca Hall Fitness Center, and Belson Stadium. In 2005, the science labs and student life facilities were the target of an additional $60 million in capital enhancements. In regards to its expansion plans, the university has had a contentious relationship with the surrounding community in the past.In 2007, however, it was discovered that the university was planning to lease a building under construction by a separate company for an off-campus dormitory.Residents argue that such a plan goes against the school's pledge of being a "good neighbor" towards the community.The university, however, contends that it did not break the pledge for it was only leasing the structure not building it.Nevertheless, opponents, including state SenatorFrank Padavan, argue that such an explanation is "disingenuous".St. Vincent Hall was also converted from a Vincentian and clergy residence to student dormitories. The Vincentian fathers and other clergy moved to the Father John Murray Hall built for them on campus were they now live.
The university has seen much growth on its campuses in order to attract students from outside the New York area. In 1999, the first dormitory was completed on the Queens campus. As of 2008, the campus now contains seven dorms and a townhouse complex.
In 2018 Bent Hall home of the Tobin College of Business underwent extensive renovations. Originally Bent Hall was home to Tobin College and Collins College of Professional Studies. After the renovations Collins College was relocated to the second floor of St. Augustine Hall which was also renovated for the college. In 2021 Father Shanley announced that the College of Pharmacy will be relocated to a new Health Sciences Center that is slated to be built on the location of the former St. Vincent's Hall. The new center will be named the St. Vincent Health Sciences Center.
St. John's University fields 17NCAA Division Iteams in various sports while also providing intramural and club sports.The Division 1 sports include;
St. John's sports teams are called the Red Storm. Though not official, the moniker "Johnnies" is also commonly used by fans. Prior to 1994, St. John's went by the nickname "Redmen", which referenced the red uniforms worn by the university in competition.However, the name was interpreted as a Native American reference in the 1960s, and was changed to the Red Storm after mounting pressure on colleges and universities to adopt names more sensitive to Native American culture.
St. John'sNCAA Division Iteams compete in theBig East Conference, with the exception of the fencing team, which competes in theECAC.
From 1979 to 2013, St. John's was a charter member of theOriginal Big East Conference. In 2013 the Big East Conference split into two different conferences. St. John's and the other six non-FBSschools in the original Big Eastbroke awayto form the current Big East, while the remaining FBS schools formed theAmerican Athletic Conference.
The St. John's baseball team has been to the College World Series six times, recorded 26 NCAA appearances and 6 Big East Championships, and sent more than 70 players on to professional baseball careers, most recently 2014 World Series ChampionJoe Panikof the San Francisco Giants.
The 3,500-seat "Ballpark at St. John's" was renamed "Jack Kaiser Stadium" in 2007 after the Hall of Fame Coach and former St. John's Athletic Director. The stadium is one of the largest college baseball stadiums in the northeast, and is a featured venue on the EA Sports MVP NCAA Baseball video game.The stadium had been conceived out of a deal between the university and theGiuliani Administration, wherein the latter wanted to find a location for a single-A team that would be affiliated with theNew York Mets. Expressing concern about quality of life issues and the spending of public money for a private religious institution, surrounding neighborhood civic groups and local politicians protested the plan. In order to placate their concerns, the Mets offered to open it up to the communities for local high school games and youth programs, and the stadium was built amid many large-scale protests by community residents and by State SenatorFrank Padavan, while also using city financing.The Red Storm played the first-ever game at the Mets' new ballpark,Citi Field, on March 29, 2009.
St. John's major leaguers have includedRich Aurilia,Danny Burawa,John Franco,Sam Nahem,Joe Panik,Steve Ratzer,Wayne Rosenthal,Mickey Rutner, andFrank Viola.
Themen's basketball teamhas reached theNCAA tournamenttwenty-eight (28) times, boasts twoJohn R. Wooden Awardwinners, 11 consensusAll-Americans, 6 members of theCollege Basketball Hall of Fame, and has sent 59 players to theNBA. The school is also the 8th winningest team in all of college basketball.
Even though the program has yet to win theNCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship, the school boasts many other accolades, including the 1911 Helms Athletic Foundation National Championship and the 1943 and 1944 NIT National Championships (primary championship of the era)It also was runner-up in the 1952 National Championship game (prior to tournament structure). With its 28 NCAA tournament appearances, St. John's has made appearances in 2 Final Fours and 7 Sweet Sixteens.
The Red Storm play most of their home games atMadison Square Garden, "The World's Most Famous Arena", while their early non-conference games are held atCarnesecca Arenaon the St. John's campus in Queens.St. John's University holds the second best winning percentage for a New York City school in the NCAA basketball tournament (second toCity College of New York– which won one NCAA Div 1 Championships as theCCNY Beavers men's basketball)   St. John's has the mostNITappearances with 27, the most championship wins with 6, although they were stripped of one due to an NCAA infraction.  In 2008, St. John's celebrated its 100th year of college basketball.
The St. John's fencing program, coached for three decades (since 1995) by Olympic coachYury Gelman, has also attained national prominence including OlympiansKeeth Smartand (later banned for life)Ivan Lee.In 2001, St. John's won the NCAA fencing championship. The men's team has ranked in the top seven in each of the last 30 years, and finished 2nd in the NCAAin the 1995, 2000, 2002, 2007, and 2010 seasons. In addition to team accolades, St. John's fencers have won 26 NCAA Individual National Championship titles, and 140 have been namedAll-Americans.
St. John's alumnusDaryl Homerand alumnaDagmara Wozniakwere both named to the 2016 U.S. Olympic fencing team, the second time that each was selected.In 2021 CanadianEli Schenkelfenced in the Olympics.
The St. John's men's soccer program has appeared in 15 consecutive NCAA tournaments, advancing to the Sweet 16 in each of the last ten seasons, and the Final Four on 3 occasions.  They have captured 11Big EastChampionships, including the 2006 season title as well as the 2009 season title, and in 1996, St. John's won the NCAA National Championship. Their home games are hosted at Belson Stadium, a state-of-the-art 2,300-seat stadium on the university campus.In 2006, the men's soccer team became the first American soccer team to be invited to play inVietnam. The team played against severalVietnam Football Federationsquads as well as participating in community service.
The women's programs at St. John's University have also enjoyed a tremendous amount of success.  The women's volleyball, soccer, tennis, basketball & softball teams have combined to win 9 Big East Championships and appear in 17 NCAA tournaments since the 1980s.
St. John's has over 170,000 alumni, 82% of whom reside in the GreaterNew York Metropolitan Area.Some of the most-recognized alumni are New York GovernorsHugh L. CareyandMario M. Cuomo, California GovernorGeorge Deukmejian, New York City Police CommissionerRaymond Kelly, United States Commerce SecretaryRonald H. Brown, Queens District AttorneyMelinda Katz, CardinalAnthony Bevilacqua, and Grammy Award-winning artist and producerJ. Cole. Many other alumni have held notable positions in public service, business, and the Catholic Church, such asSister Bernadette Armiger.