St. John's College
St. John's College is a private nonprofit liberal arts institution operating two campuses in Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM, serving ~1,000 students through a Great Books seminar-based curriculum and Graduate Institute programs in Liberal Arts, Eastern Classics, and Middle Eastern Classics.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersAnnapolis, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What St. John's College does
St. John's College is a private nonprofit liberal arts institution operating two residential campuses in Annapolis, Maryland (founded 1696) and Santa Fe, New Mexico (founded 1964), serving a combined community of approximately 1,000 students. The institution's core product is the Great Books Program—an interdisciplinary curriculum built around close reading and seminar-based discussion of foundational texts spanning roughly 3,000 years of thought across philosophy, literature, mathematics, and the sciences, with no lectures and an average class size of 16 (capped at 21). The college also offers a Graduate Institute conferring MA degrees in Liberal Arts, Eastern Classics, and Middle Eastern Classics, plus ancillary programs including the Summer Academy, January Freshman entry pathway, and Lifelong Learning/Scholarships for Teachers continuing-education offerings.
Revenue is generated through two primary streams: tuition from undergraduate and graduate programs and donations from alumni and external supporters. St. John's positions itself as one of the most affordable private colleges in the United States, with full tuition covered for U.S. students from families earning under $75,000 annually and Pell Grant matching available. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via on-campus enrollment, supplemented by free online and in-person public lecture programming. The college invests in content marketing, alumni storytelling, and civic partnerships (Modern Elder Academy, Maryland Liberty Tree Project) to sustain enrollment and donor pipelines. The institution is governed by a Board of Visitors & Governors with no parent company, external investor ownership, or M&A activity disclosed.
St. John's College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- St. John's College
- Legal name
- St. John's College
- Website
- https://stjohnscollege.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- St. John's College is a private nonprofit liberal arts institution operating two campuses in Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM, serving ~1,000 students through a Great Books seminar-based curriculum and Graduate Institute programs in Liberal Arts, Eastern Classics, and Middle Eastern Classics.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
St. John's College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Liberal Arts Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Great Books/Core Curriculum Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Residential Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAH), Interdisciplinary/Experimental Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAN), Secular/Nonsectarian Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAG)
Keywords
Where St. John's College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Annapolis
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
St. John's College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition Revenue: Tuition-based revenue from undergraduate and graduate programs. St. John's offers competitive tuition rates among private colleges with generous need-based and merit-based financial aid.
- Donations and Giving: Alumni and donor contributions support the college's mission and financial aid programs. Mail address for gifts: St. John's College, PO Box 715905, Philadelphia, PA 19171-5905.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Full Tuition Coverage for Low-Income Families |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
St. John's College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
St. John's College delivers a Great Books-centered liberal arts education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with students engaging in close reading and discussion-based seminars of original works spanning 3,000 years of thought across philosophy, literature, and the sciences. The college also offers Summer Academy programs, Lifelong Learning for adult learners, and a January Freshman entry pathway, all anchored in the same text-and-discussion pedagogy.
Product overview
St. John's College offers a unified educational experience centered on the Great Books Program. The core undergraduate offering provides an interdisciplinary liberal arts degree through rigorous seminar-based discussion of foundational texts across philosophy, literature, and sciences. Graduate programs include MA degrees in Liberal Arts, Eastern Classics, and Middle Eastern Classics. Additional offerings include Summer Academy programs and Lifelong Learning opportunities for continuing education.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Great Books Program (Undergraduate) Interdisciplinary liberal arts Bachelor of Arts program in which students read original writings of great thinkers across 3,000 years of history and engage in seminar discussions with fewer than 20 students covering philosophy, literature, and sciences. Designed for prospective undergraduate students seeking a rigorous, discussion-based education.
- Graduate Institute Graduate-level MA programs in Liberal Arts, Eastern Classics, and Middle Eastern Classics, all books- and discussion-based. Designed for students seeking advanced interdisciplinary study of classical texts and intellectual depth at the master's degree level, including K-12 teachers via the Scholarships for Teachers program.
- Summer Academy Seasonal educational programs held primarily at the Santa Fe campus, including Summer Classics, offering adult participants the opportunity to read and discuss classic literature in an immersive format. Designed for lifelong learners and intellectually curious adults.
- Lifelong Learning Continuing education programs for adult learners, including scholarships for teachers and various non-degree learning opportunities centered on books and discussion. Designed for adults seeking ongoing intellectual engagement and community outside traditional degree programs.
- January Freshman Program An alternative admissions pathway program allowing undergraduate students to begin their Bachelor of Arts education at St. John's College in January rather than the traditional fall start. Designed for prospective undergraduates seeking a non-traditional entry timeline.
Quantifiable outcome
- Princeton Review #6 ranking for Professors Get High Marks
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use St. John's College
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
St. John's College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
St. John's College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Maryland Liberty Tree ProjectminorThe Maryland Liberty Tree Project plans to plant descendants of Maryland's original 1775 Liberty Tree in all 23 counties and Baltimore City by the end of 2026 to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence. St. John's College Annapolis campus is participating in this collaboration among multiple Maryland organizations, emphasizing both historical preservation and environmental stewardship.
- Modern Elder AcademycoreSt. John's College and Modern Elder Academy announced a partnership to host 'Crossroads & Classics,' a five-day retreat focused on midlife transformation through classic literature, poetry, and art. The retreat is held at MEA's 2,600-acre ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, with daily seminars led by St. John's tutors featuring texts by Plato, Elizabeth Bishop, Viktor Frankl, and others. The collaboration is promoted by MEA founder Chip Conley and St. John's Vice President Phelosha Collaros.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
St. John's College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bard College: Private liberal arts college in the Hudson Valley of New York with an interdisciplinary, discussion-based curriculum. Comparable in its unconventional approach, smaller scale relative to national universities, and emphasis on intellectual community.
- Hillsdale College: Independent, nonsectarian liberal arts college in Michigan with a classical core curriculum emphasizing Western civilization and Great Books-style texts. Comparable in scale (~1,500 students), national brand reach, and emphasis on rigorous, traditional liberal arts education.
- Reed College: Highly selective private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon, known for its distinctive conference-style pedagogy and intellectual intensity. Comparable small size (~1,500 students), strong academic reputation, and unconventional curricular structure.
- Kenyon College: Small, highly regarded Ohio liberal arts college with strong humanities focus and seminar-style teaching. Comparable in scale (~1,700 students), residential liberal arts model, and reputation for rigorous undergraduate teaching.
- Thomas Aquinas College: California and Massachusetts-based small Catholic liberal arts college with a Great Books-centered, discussion-based curriculum. Most direct curricular analogue to St. John's, serving a similarly small cohort of students through seminar discussion of foundational texts.
- Sarah Lawrence College: Small private liberal arts college in Bronxville, New York, known for seminar-style teaching and close student-faculty interaction. Comparable in pedagogical model (small seminars, low student-to-faculty ratio) and selective liberal arts positioning.
Emerging players
- Deep Springs College: Tiny, all-male, two-year liberal arts program on a California ranch combining academics, labor, and self-governance. Comparable in extreme curricular distinctiveness and small scale, though structurally different (no tuition, two-year only).
- Bennington College: Small Vermont liberal arts college with progressive, interdisciplinary, discussion-driven curriculum. Comparable in unconventional pedagogical positioning and small scale, though with more arts integration than St. John's.
Others
- Modern Elder Academy: Santa Fe-based lifelong learning retreat operator for midlife and older adults. Stated strategic partner of St. John's through the 'Crossroads & Classics' retreat, making it a comparable player in the adult intellectual enrichment space and a relevant ecosystem peer rather than direct competitor.
Broad incumbents
- University of Chicago (Core Curriculum): Major research university whose undergraduate Core Curriculum shares the Great Books philosophy of reading foundational texts in common. While much larger and a research institution, the Core makes it a structural intellectual peer and the most cited comparison point for Great Books programs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
St. John's College social profiles
Digital presenceSt. John's College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
St. John's College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
St. John's College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
St. John's College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about St. John's College
What does St. John's College do?
St. John's College delivers a Great Books-centered liberal arts education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, with students engaging in close reading and discussion-based seminars of original works spanning 3,000 years of thought across philosophy, literature, and the sciences. The college also offers Summer Academy programs, Lifelong Learning for adult learners, and a January Freshman entry pathway, all anchored in the same text-and-discussion pedagogy.
Is St. John's College a public or private company?
St. John's College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was St. John's College founded?
St. John's College was founded in -1. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is St. John's College based?
St. John's College is headquartered in Annapolis, United States, in the North America region.
How does St. John's College make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Tuition Revenue is the primary driver. The others are donations and Giving.
Who are St. John's College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bard College, Hillsdale College, Reed College, Kenyon College, Thomas Aquinas College and Sarah Lawrence College. Emerging players are Deep Springs College and Bennington College. Modern Elder Academy is listed as an others. University of Chicago (Core Curriculum) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does St. John's College have an API?
No public API is recorded for St. John's College.
What industry is St. John's College in?
St. John's College's product category is Liberal Arts Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHACAM, Great Books/Core Curriculum Liberal Arts Colleges, with a secondary code of EDAHACAH, Residential Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.