“Machiavelli forces us to consider a darker, more cynical, and possibly more true-to-life form of politics. In reading ‘The Prince,’ we look ruthless pragmatism in the face, and it is horrifying. I came out appreciating good, just, and principled leadership more than ever before.”
“The Odyssey, on the surface, seems a tale of a man coming home. But Homer forced me to ask, after such strife, after such a monumental shift in life, what is required for the warrior to be able to return?”
“Reading Ptolemy reminds us to wonder. He shows us that there is a cosmos, an ordered whole, that may be different than we expect. He invites us to ask questions about the world we see and sets us on the road to philosophy.”
“Austen’s characters can never be defined by just one adjective. They are real and for me they act as a constant reminder of the complexity of a human being.”
“In a world where the pursuit of knowledge is pushed aside in favor of a ‘right answer,’ reading Plato is a breath of fresh air. Socrates does not want a solution; he knows nothing, he just wants a conversation about the topic.”
“Confucius made me think about the lack of regularity and ritual in my life, helping me come to a better understanding that I wasn’t an isolated atom, and the power of ritual could help me overcome that feeling.”
Machiavelli
Homer
Ptolemy
Austen
Plato
Confucius
At St. John’s, great books—and great discussions—are the heart of the college’s distinctive liberal arts program. Students are part of an intellectual community and investors in their own education, from conversations around the seminar table to those that take place beyond classroom walls. Inspired by some of the most brilliant minds in the Western tradition, students push themselves to think deeply, discuss intensely, and live boldly—and then carry that passion into the world.
Our students and alumni, known as Johnnies, are intellectually curious individuals who build on their St. John’s education throughout their lives.
St. John’s is one college with two campuses in historic state capitals: Annapolis, Maryland and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Students may transfer to the other campus to experience college life in a different setting.
The Annapolis campus is rooted in tradition, and located in the state capital within 30 minutes of Washington, DC, and Baltimore, Maryland.
The capital of New Mexico, Santa Fe is rich in Native American and Hispanic culture.
The Princeton Review ranked St. John's for “Professors Get High Marks.”
Our Rankings
Small discussion-based classes have a low student-to-faculty ratio.
Our Faculty
Seminars have fewer than 20 students, typically led by two faculty members.
Our ClassroomsWho better to offer a glimpse of Johnnie life than a St. John’s student? The Johnnie Chair is a student-run blog about life, learning, and the people who make the college such a special place.
“We know writer’s block is no fun, so some of the staff at the admissions office asked some current undergraduates to share what they wrote in their application.”
“I’ve been exploring the trails around campus, Atalaya and the surrounding paths.”
