Saint John's University is the oldest continuously operating institution of higher learning in Minnesota.

In addition to its undergraduate offerings, SJU includes Saint John's School of Theology and Seminary[8] (SOT), a graduate school that confers Master of Divinity and master of arts degrees and also prepares seminarians for the priesthood.

Minnesota Public Radio began on January 22, 1967, when KSJR signed on from the campus of Saint John's University.

[22] CSB and SJU have achieved national recognition for strength in study abroad and international education opportunities.

[23] According to Open Doors 2018, CSB and SJU ranked second in the nation among undergraduate institutions for participation in semester-long study abroad programs.

[25] CSB and SJU enroll approximately 250 students from 50 countries and offer 200 undergraduate courses that have a global focus.

[17][26] In 2017, an anonymous donor provided a $10-million gift to create the Center for Ethical Leadership in Action at the College of Saint Benedict.

Since CSB and SJU are located about three and a half miles apart, a regular inter-campus bus service[28] known as "The Link" connects the campuses.

[32] CSB and SJU were listed in "The Princeton Review's Guide to 361 Green Colleges: 2016 Edition" as an institution that "demonstrates notable commitments to sustainability in their academic offerings, campus infrastructure, activities and career preparation.

The institutions signed the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) in 2007, which formalized their goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2035.

[36] The original 3.9-acre facility was built in 2009, and its tracking panels provide the university with about 4% of its annual energy needs and up to 20% of its real-time needs in peak conditions.

This project creates a research opportunity for students and others to compare the performance differences between the two types of panels.

[39] Fine Arts Programming is a department of CSB and SJU that presents professional performances and art exhibitions from a range of national and international artists, and also supports and enhances the academic mission of CSB-SJU through its programming, resources, and personnel.

[40] The Benedicta Arts Center is home to Escher Auditorium, Gorecki Family Theater, Colman Black Box Theater, Darnall Amphitheater, Helgeson Dance Studio, Gorecki Gallery & Gallery Lounge, the BAC Box Office, and classroom and rehearsal spaces, faculty and staff offices, and other music, theater, and art-related spaces.

The College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John's University (SJU) are members of the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), competing in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).

Saint John's (SJU) has been in the MIAC since the 1920–21 academic year, and competes in 11 intercollegiate varsity sports, which are: baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, ice hockey, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and wrestling.

The SJU basketball team ended the 2012–2013 season with a loss to Augsburg in the quarterfinal round of the MIAC playoffs.

[56] St. John's is widely known for its football program, which consistently ranks in the top 25 in the nation at the NCAA Division III level.

[58] Their former rivalry with the nearby University of St. Thomas, who in 2021 moved to NCAA Division I, was considered to be one of the greatest rivalries in Division III football, with games regularly drawing tens of thousands of fans and national media attention.

They repeated this accomplishment again, defeating New England College 37–25 in a comeback win on April 27, 2014, at Infinity Park.

Seniors Mitch Hagen and Chris Stevermer will compete at the NCAA Division III Championships on March 15–16.[when?]

[66] The club was founded in 1986 by Peter Farrell, under faculty advisement of Brother Dietrich Reinhardt, OSB.

The club is a non-varsity, athletic program affiliated with and partially funded by SJU Student Services.

A student board of directors consists of a president, vice-president, treasurer and secretaries that help run the administrative part of the club.

[68] Saint Benedict (CSB) joined the MIAC in the 1985–86 academic year, and competes in 12 intercollegiate varsity sports, which are: basketball, cross country, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field and volleyball.

[69] CSB runner Fiona Smith has won six individual NCAA DIII National Championships in 2023 and 2024, including indoor 3K & 5K (2023 and 2024), cross country (2023), and outdoor 5K (2024).

Bennie Jaylyn Ahlberg also qualified for the 2024 NCAA DIII women's outdoor pole vault.

In 2024, CSB Swim & Dive was named a CSCAA Scholar All-American Team, for the 13th straight year.

[76] CSB and SJU offer a variety of club sports for students to stay active and involved.

At SJU, club sports include hockey, crew, lacrosse, Nordic skiing, rugby, clay target team, ultimate Frisbee, and volleyball.