St. Ambrose University

St. Ambrose University (SAU) is a place where your professors know you by name, where you can perform research as early as your first year, and where your dedication to serving others provides you and your friends with a greater purpose in life.

The SAU community is diverse, welcoming, and committed to learning from each other. Our student body includes 130 international students from 25 countries, and 17.7% of our undergraduates and 13.3% of our graduate students identify themselves as belonging to a minority group.

The Academic Resources of a State School, the Friendliness of a Small College

Get the Best of Both Worlds

A St. Ambrose University  education equips you like no other - because St. Ambrose is a university like no other. You'll learn to think deeply, travel boldly, and use your abilities for the good of others. At St. Ambrose, we don't wait for the future to arrive. We pursue it with everything we've got.

We offer more than 60 majors and the same top-notch academics found at larger universities and colleges. St. Ambrose University appeals to all kinds of students who seek academic challenge in a caring environment with opportunities to both serve others and develop as leaders. You'll have the opportunity to get involved in internships, study abroad and service-learning experiences that go above and beyond many of our peer institutions.

But what sets us apart is our small class sizes and approachable professors who get to know you and are dedicated to your instruction, providing you with opportunities you might not receive at other colleges. Our 'Ambrosian' values of academic excellence and commitment to the liberal arts, social justice, and community service help lay the groundwork for your success as a student, your career, and in making the world a better place. On top of all of that, we have some of the nicest residence halls in the Midwest!

Begin your college journey with us and expand your world.

International Students at St. Ambrose

International students at St. Ambrose come from every corner of the globe and choose SAU for many reasons: our well-regarded programs, our beautiful and safe campus, our convenient location to major cities, and our focus on teaching.

But what international students like best about their St. Ambrose experience is our friendly, welcoming community of students, faculty, and staff. It's uniquely Ambrosian!

In fact, our International Student Services staff are dedicated to making sure you have a positive experience, whether that means helping with your course schedule, answering a question about housing, or just sharing stories over a cup of coffee. They are ready and available to help and guide you, from the minute you become an Ambrosian to the day you graduate.

Our International Admissions staff makes your application process easy and efficient. We've worked with students from more than 30 countries and we are ready to help you apply.

SAU at a Glance

• SAU was ranked 5th in College Consensus' (2018) survey of Best Colleges and Universities in Iowa, and 13th in the category Best Regional Universities-Midwest, based on an average of published rankings and student reviews.
• The SAU Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program ranked 5th Best DBA Program by CollegeChoice.net (2019). Rankings were based on quality, reputation, affordability, value, and satisfaction, and placing in the top 10 is an honor SAU shares with Harvard, Creighton, and Washington University in St. Louis.
• SAU is recognized as a College of Distinction for its adherence to successful outcomes, great teaching, creating a vibrant community, and educating engaged students.
• Ranked 38th (tie) by U.S. News & World Report (2019) Regional Universities Midwest out of a region of 12 states. The publication gathers data from each college on up to 15 indicators of academic excellence. Each factor is assigned a weight that reflects U.S. News' judgment about how much that measure matters. Finally, the colleges and universities in each category are ranked against their peers, based on their composite weighted score.
• In other categories, U.S. News & World Report ranked SAU as 23rd (tie) in Best College for Veterans due to our participation in federal initiatives helping veterans and active-duty service members pay for their degrees and 42nd Best Value (calculated by 2017-18 net cost of attendance).

Scholarships

St. Ambrose University offers scholarships to all admitted undergraduate applicants on the basis of their academic and extracurricular achievement.  SAU also offers additional scholarships for art, music, theatre, and athletics. We have many international student-athletes who are contributing and growing their skills as valued team players. Most recently, we launched a collegiate esports team, and players can qualify for scholarships based on performance and ability.  

The Quad Cities: Something For Everyone

St. Ambrose University is located in the Quad Cities, on the Mississippi River.  Our Quad Cities metro area population is more than 400,000 people strong, now ranking second only to Chicago in the 2-state area of Iowa and Illinois.

Whether it's a concert downtown, watching a minor league baseball or football game, going to one of our many cultural festivals, taking a walk at Vander Veer Park, or enjoying the bike trail along the Mississippi River, there is something to capture your interest.

SAU Esports