St. Bonaventure University was founded 155 years ago in the interest of promoting Catholic-Franciscan education and continues to this day to portray academic excellence. The university provides personalized attention that reflects the Franciscan tradition of valuing human relationships.
SBU instills students with a real passion for learning and living. They encourage independent study, critical analysis, and original expression. Professors are committed and approachable faculty who dedicate themselves to making connections — among themselves, their courses and, most importantly, their students.
St. Bonaventure University cultivates graduates who are:
- Confident and creative communicators
- Collaborative leaders and team members
- Innovative problem solvers who are respectful of themselves, others, and the diverse world around them
That’s why SBU says their students are becoming extraordinary.
Where Is St. Bonaventure University?
St. Bonaventure University is located in Allegany, New York in southwestern New York State, near the Pennsylvania border. The university is part of the regional Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.
What People Are Saying About SBU
- Ranked a U.S. News & World Report “Best College” and “Best Value School”
- Awarded Kiplinger’s Personal Finance “Top 300 Best College Values” and “Best 380 Colleges” by The Princeton Review
How Many Students Attend St. Bonaventure University?
As of fall 2015, 1,992 students were enrolled in Saint Bonaventure University. 1,674 students enrolled in undergraduate programs. Out of these students, 49% were female and 51% were male. 97% of undergrad students attended St. Bonaventure full-time. Only 3% of undergraduate students attended part-time.
Many of these students fit the traditional idea of an undergraduate. 98% of undergraduate students were 24 years old or younger. Some adults did pursue an undergraduate with St. Bonnies. 2% of undergraduate were 25 years or older.
Graduate students make up a smaller percentage of SBU. 318 graduate students were enrolled in fall of 2015. Of these students, 59% attended full-time and 41% part-time.i
Online Programs at St. Bonaventure University
St. Bonaventure University Online may offer more than credentials on a résumé; it could provide an opportunity for busy adults to improve their lives and the lives of others through an active, compassionate, ethical, skilled, and dedicated online educational community.
100% online programs are offered as part of St. Bonaventure University’s graduate school. Like their on-campus counterparts, classes in these programs are taught by 100% by SBU faculty. And, some degree programs could be completed in a few as 12 months!
SBU uses the Moodle Learning Management System. In this program, professors could upload lecture content, exams, and assignments. In addition, they could also host class discussions via digital forums or video conferences. Students could log into this portal to submit their own work and take exams from the comfort of their own home.
After being accepted into one of these programs, you could choose to enroll in the fall, spring, or summer semester. Each of these semesters offers two start dates for students.
In addition to your academic courses, the online programs at SBU may also offer additional services. SBU could provide the following for its online students.
- 24/7 Technical Assistance
- Online Student Success Coach
- Library Services
And, as of fall 2015, a large portion of the graduate student body takes part in online programs. 17% of SBU graduate students enroll in only distance education. An additional 22% of students enrolled in some distance education to supplement their course schedule.
Undergraduate St. Bonnies Admissions
St. Bonaventure University does place a lot of emphasis on previous academic success. That being said, they don’t adhere to a strict admissions formula. Instead, the admissions team understands that applicants are more than just a few scores or grades. While these are considered, they also aim to look at what they call the “whole picture.” This includes looking at other characteristics outside of academics to see what makes students tick.
As part of your application process to join the St. Bonaventure Bonnies, you could be asked to submit the following materials.
- Completed Application
- High School GPA
- SAT or ACT scores
- High School Transcripts
In addition, SBU takes your previous, high school coursework into account. While these are not required, the admissions staff may prefer students to have taken the following courses:
- 4 Years of English
- 4 Years of Social Studies/History
- 3 Years of Math
- 3 Years of Laboratory Sciences
- 2 Years of a Foreign Language
St. Bonaventure Acceptance Rate
St. Bonaventure University accepted 66% of its 2,996 undergraduate applicants in fall 2015. SBU accepted 69% of its male applicants and 64% of female appplicants. Of the students who were accepted, 20% would go on to officially enroll in classes.
It’s also great to note that many of the students who begin their education with SBU continue there throughout their academic journey. 86% of first-time students who began pursuing a bachelors degree in 2014 returned to their studies in 2015.i
Graduate Admissions at SBU
Graduate admissions at SBU vary based on the program you’re applying to. Depending on your program, you may be asked to provide additional supplemental material such as research essays, creative portfolios, and more. For individual program requirements, speak with the appropriate faculty.
In addition to these requirements, you may also be asked to provide the following.
- Completed Application
- 2 Letters of Recommendation
- Professional Resume
- Writing Samples
- GMAT or GRE
SBU University Financial Aid
Out of the full-time, beginning undergraduate students in 2014-2015, 99% received some form of financial aid for their education. This means, 431 students in the freshmen class received aid to help them through their first year of school.
99% of those students received aid from a grant or scholarship. Students received aid from the following sources. Also included is the median amount of aid students received.
- Federal Grants, $5,109
- State & Local Government Grants or Scholarships, $2,817
- Institutional Grants or Scholarships, $18,257
Another 73% of students who received aid did so via student loans. Students received a median amount of $8,934 from federal and other student loan sources.i
The SBU Faculty
In fall 2015, SBU employed 129 full-time and 72 part-time faculty members. This is roughly a 10 to 1 student to faculty ratio. 100% of the faculty devoted their time on campus to instructing students. No time was taken away from classes to conduct research or other public services.
Also, SBU does not employ instructional graduate assistants. Classes are solely taught by faculty members who are trained in the appropriate field.i
Is St. Bonaventura University Accredited?
SBU University is accredited by the Commission on High Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. In addition, the following SBU programs are accredited by the mentioned agencies.
- The School of Business is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB)
- The education program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE).
- The School of Education is also accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Program (CACREP).
More information about the school’s accreditation status could be found on SBU.edu.
Potential Online Programs
To say St. Bonaventure University Online offers high-quality online degree programs fueled by Franciscan values is true. Quality and ethics are what define SBU—but they just scratch the surface of our story. SBU provides an opportunity for busy adults to improve their lives and the lives of others through an active, compassionate, ethical, skilled, and dedicated online educational community.
SBU offers the following degree programs entirely online.
- Master of Arts in Strategic Leadership: Takes course that offer an integrated approach to business, communication, and arts and sciences.
- Master of Arts in Integrated Marketing Communications: Master the strategic skills and knowledge you may need to engage in a crowded media landscape.
- Online Master of Business Administration: Achieve extraordinary success for the greater good and the bottom line.
Online Masters of Business Administration
SBU offers a masters of business administration (MBA) as part of their online school. Courses in this program teach methods and techniques to competently accomplish business objectives. This could include managing a team of your peers, designing budgets, business ethics, and more. As part of this program, you could have the chance to take some of the following courses.
- Foundations of Management
- Economics
- Organizational Behavior
Courses may differ by year. Be sure to speak with department faculty for an up-to-date course guide.
The online MBA program offers three concentrations for students to choose from.
- Accounting
- Finance
- Marketing
This particular program does not require students to have previously earned a related bachelors degree. Instead, students who have no prior business experience or knowledge may be required to take additional courses covering fundamental concepts. With this knowledge in mind, non-business students may be required to complete 42 credit hours to earn their degree. Previous business students may be required to complete 30 credit hours.
Depending on your undergraduate business experience, you could potentially earn an online MBA in as little as 20 months.
The online MBA program at SBU is part of the 5% of business schools worldwide accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
SBU conferred 68 masters degrees in business administration in the 2015-2016 school year.i
Graduating
64% of full-time, first-time students who began their studies in 2009 graduated within 150% of their “normal time” of completion. For a bachelor’s degree, “normal time” typically translates to around 4 years of study. Of these students, 54% earned their degree in 4 years. Of the remaining students, 64% would go on to earn their degree in 6 years.
It’s important to note that these numbers do not include the entire SBU student body. The above percentages do not account for students who transferred into St. Bonaventure University or began their studies as a part-time student.i
SBU & You
The online programs offered at St. Bonaventure University could expand your educational horizons and direct you on the next step of your journey. To browse some of SBU’s offerings, use the tabs on this page. You could read more about specific online programs. Or, you could request more information from the school itself! This could be a great way to receive details like admissions deadlines, faculty bios, and more. After that, you’ll have to get used to saying, “Go, Bonnies!”
[i] nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=st.+bonaventure+university&s=all&id=195164
