University of Scranton Undergraduate Student Statistics: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Scranton, a private Catholic and Jesuit institution, has a rich history and a strong commitment to providing a transformative education grounded in the liberal arts. Founded in 1888 as Saint Thomas College by the Most Reverend William G., the University is animated by the spiritual vision of Saint Ignatius Loyola, a tradition of excellence, and a commitment to the common good. This article delves into the undergraduate student statistics, academic programs, campus facilities, and other key aspects of the University of Scranton.

General Information

The University of Scranton is located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, nestled in the Pocono Northeast region and easily accessible by car and air. Its convenient location places it within a two-hour drive of major cities like New York City, Philadelphia, and Syracuse, and less than five hours from Boston and Washington, D.C.

The University of Scranton has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,613 (fall 2024). The student-faculty ratio at University of Scranton is 11:1. The campus size is 58 acres.

Rankings and Recognition

In the 2026 edition of Best Colleges, University of Scranton is ranked No. 8 in Regional Universities North. It's also ranked No. 3 in Best Colleges for Veterans. This recognition underscores the University's commitment to providing a high-quality education and supporting its students, including veterans.

Academic Excellence

Ninety percent of Scranton’s instructional faculty hold doctoral or other terminal degrees in their fields, ensuring that students are taught by experts in their respective disciplines. This high percentage of qualified faculty contributes to the University's reputation for academic excellence.

The University of Scranton utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. The university grants undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science) in 65 majors. Students may also utilize many pre-professional concentrations, such as pre-medical, pre-law, and pre-dental. The university also grants graduate degrees in 29 fields, ranging from Accounting and Chemistry to Software Engineering and Theology.

Special Academic Programs

The University of Scranton offers several special academic programs designed to enhance the learning experience:

Honors Program: The honors program stresses independent work and individualized engagement with faculty. The program gives students the opportunity to pursue their research interests through one-on-one tutorials with professors and culminating in a year-long thesis project. Honors Students must take one course, between three and five tutorials, two seminars and the final 6-credit project. Honors courses count toward general education requirements and the tutorials count toward major, minor, cognate or general education requirements. Students can apply to the Honors Program in the fall of their sophomore year. Because a minimum of a 3.5 GPA is required for graduation in the Honors Program, applicants must have at least a 3.3 GPA to be considered. Admission is also based on the applicant's high school and college records, SAT scores, application, recommendations, and interviews.
Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Program (SJLA): The Special Jesuit Liberal Arts program (SJLA) was established in 1975 to model the traditional Jesuit liberal arts education that emphasizes philosophy, theology, history and literature of the Western classical and Christian ages while providing a way for students to fulfill the general education requirements. Through the courses, students develop enhanced writing, oral and critical-thinking skills while also becoming immersed in a community atmosphere that encourages excellence and service to others and an awareness of contemporary issues. Before the start of freshman year, the most qualified incoming students, usually in the top five percent of applicants, are invited to join the four year SJLA program.

Core Curriculum

The university offers a liberal arts program. Students are required to take the core courses in composition. Students are also required to take two theology courses, two philosophy courses, and an elective in one of these two areas.

Campus Life

The University of Scranton offers a vibrant campus life with a variety of activities and facilities. The campus is located in the heart of the city of Scranton, providing students with access to shopping, entertainment, and cultural activities. The surrounding mountains offer opportunities for biking, skiing, hiking, and fishing.

Residential Life

The university has 13 traditional residences: Casey Hall, Denis Edward Hall, Driscoll Hall, Fitch Hall, Gannon Hall, Giblin-Kelly Hall, Lavis Hall, McCormick Hall, Hafey Hall, Lynett Hall, Martin Hall, McCourt Hall, Nevils Hall, which provide housing for freshman students. These residence halls contain traditional double-rooms that share a community restroom on each floor. Sophomore students are offered suite-style housing, in which two double rooms share a shower and toilet, with each room having its own sink. Junior and senior students are offered apartments and houses, which have more private options for residents. The university's apartment buildings include: Linden St. Apartments, Madison Square, Mulberry Plaza, Montrone Hall, and Pilarz Hall. The university also owns a number of residential houses scattered throughout the campus and the historic Hill Section of the city which they use to house students depending on the need for additional housing, most of which were originally acquired during the 1970s and 1980s. These include: Blair House, Fayette House, Gonzaga House, Herold House, Liva House, McGowan House, Cambria House, Monroe House, Tioga House, and Wayne House. In 2018 The university renamed McCormick Hall MacKillop Hall and Hannan Hall Giblin-Kelly Hall.

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Athletics

With the addition of indoor and outdoor men's and women's track and field, Scranton sponsors 23 NCAA Division III (non-scholarship) athletic programs - 11 for men and 12 for women. The University is a member of the Landmark Conference in 22 of the 23 sports it sponsors. After 1946 the athletic teams ceased to be the Tomcats and were called the Royals after the purple color of their uniforms.

Arts and Culture

The University of Scranton Players produce theatrical works during the year in conjunction with the academic Theatre Program. Their productions run the gambit from classical to contemporary. Performance Music presents or performs an array of concerts, recitals, guest performances and masterclasses. The Schemel Forum, a not-for-credit continuing education program that had its beginnings in 2006 has evolved into a robust educational/cultural program that attracts educated adults from Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Drama Club began productions in 1893. The Aquinas began as a literary monthly in 1915, furnishing also a yearbook edition, evolving into a student newspaper in 1931, and by the 21st century adding a web edition. The current Windhover yearbook was first published in 1948 and named for the bird's loyalty to its master. The Glee Club dates to 1925. The World Premiere Composition Series began performing new works by composers in 1984 and has continued this annual showcase.

Key Campus Buildings

The University of Scranton's campus is home to a variety of notable buildings, each serving a unique purpose:

Brennan Hall: the building was completed in 2000. It houses the departments of the Aruthur J. Kania School of Management. Its five stories contain classrooms, seminar rooms, faculty offices, an advising center, the Pearn Auditorium, and the Irwin E. Alperin Financial Center, which is designed to simulate a stock market trading floor, complete with an electronic ticker and data displays. The fifth floor of Brennan Hall is the Joseph M.
Edward R. Leahy, Jr. Hall: the building was completed in 2015.
Houlihan-McLean Center: the Victorian Gothic style building was constructed in 1910 as the Immanuel Baptist Church.
Loyola Science Center: completed in 2011, the building houses the university's Biology, Chemistry, Computing Sciences, Mathematics, and Physics/Electrical Engineering departments as well as any programs currently associated with these departments. The construction of the Loyola Science Center involved integrating a new four-story structure into an existing structure, the Harper-McGinnis wing of St.
McGurrin Hall: the building was completed in 1998. It houses many of the departments in the J.A. Panuska College of Professional Studies, including Education, Nursing, Counseling and Human Services, and Health Administration and Human Resources. McGurrin's four stories include classrooms, laboratories, teaching instruction labs, and counseling suites as well as the Panuska College of Professional Studies’ advising center and administration offices. In the basement of McGurrin Hall, the university created the Leahy Community Health & Family Center, which meets the health and wellness needs of underserved individuals in the greater Scranton community while providing a place where faculty guide students in a practical educational experience through its programs, which include the University of Success, the Alice V. Leahy Food and Clothing Pantry, the Edward R. Leahy, Jr.
St. Thomas Hall: the building, constructed at the corner of Linden and Monroe Streets, was completed in 1962. At the time of its completion, the five-story L-shaped building contained 50 classrooms, 15 utility rooms, 11 equipment rooms, 10 corridors, 128 offices, ROTC offices, student lounges, the St. Ignatius Loyola Chapel, and four laboratories. In 1987, the Harper-McGinnis Wing, a two-floor addition that contained offices and laboratories, was added to St. Thomas Hall to house the Physics and Electronics Engineering department. Recently, in 2009 and 2011, St. Thomas underwent significant renovations.
Smurfit Arts Center: the Romanesque building was constructed in 1906 as the Universalist John Raymond Memorial Church.
Weinberg Memorial Library: the Library was completed in 1992, replacing Alumni Memorial Library which proved unable to serve adequately the growing student population, to house the vast library collections, and lacked the necessary wiring for modernizing the library with new technological advances. The Library has five floors, which seat approximately 700 students at one time and hold the university's extensive library collections. The Library is home to the University of Scranton Archives and Special Collections.
Brown Hall: the Classicial Revivalist building was constructed in 1896.
Campion Hall: the building, completed in 1987, is the university's residence building for the Jesuit community, who originally lived in the Estate since their arrival at the university in 1942, which proved too small to accommodate the priests. The two-story building features thirty-one bedrooms, an interior garden, an office, kitchen and dining facilities, and a chapel. Bernard R. McIllhenny, S.J.
The Estate: in 1867, Joseph H.
Fitzpatrick Field: the field was completed in 1984. The facility was designed as a multi-sports complex, complete with a regulation-size field for men's and women's soccer which also can be used for other sports such as lacrosse, field hockey, and intramural athletics. It also has bleachers, an electronic scoreboard, a maintenance building, a storage area, and a parking lot.
Galvin Terrace: after the completion of St.
Long Center: completed in 1967, the building contained the university's first indoor athletic facilities, as well as instructional areas for physical education. At the time of its construction, the top floor featured a large entrance foyer and a gymnasium, complete with movable bleacher seats that could accommodate up to 4,500 people.
Quain Memorial Conservatory: the Victorian-style structure, built in 1872, was part of the Scranton family Estate and donated to the university in 1958. The glass building has a central square (20 ft by 20 ft) flanked by two 40 ft by 15 ft wings on either side.
Retreat Center at Chapman Lake: in 1961, the University of Scranton purchased a nine-acre tract of lakefront property containing three buildings on Chapman Lake, about 30 minutes away from the university. For several years, it was chiefly used as a place for relaxation by the Jesuits and for conferences with faculty members and student leaders. As time progressed, the university's Office of Campus Ministries began using the Chapman Lake property as a Retreat Center. In 2005, in order to meet the growing demand for retreats, the university expanded the Retreat Center again.
Scranton Hall: constructed in 1871, Scranton Hall was built as a one-story carriage house and stable on the Scranton family Estate by Joseph H. Scranton. In 1928, Worthington Scranton and his wife added an additional story, renovating the building and converting it into an office space.
University Commons are the main walkways through the university's campus.

Financial Aid and Affordability

For the 2025-2026 academic year, first-year students received more than $40 million in financial aid and scholarships, $37 million of which was provided by the University. Of the first-year student aid applicants who were enrolled for the fall 2025 semester, 99% were offered funding from University scholarships and need-based grants.

The school's tuition and fees are $55,438. Seventy-three percent of first-year students receive need-based financial aid, and the average net price for federal loan recipients is $34,559.

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Outcomes

The four-year graduation rate is 77%. Six years after graduation, the median salary for graduates is $62,921. These statistics reflect the University's commitment to student success and the value of a Scranton education in the job market.

Admissions

University of Scranton accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy.

A Jesuit Education

The University of Scranton's identity as a Jesuit institution is central to its mission. Entrusted to the care of the Society of Jesus in 1942, the University is one of only 27 Jesuit, Catholic universities in the country. This affiliation means that the University is committed to providing a transformative education grounded in the liberal arts, with a focus on intellectual rigor, ethical values, and service to others.

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