Practical Information

The Collegeville Institute was designed by the world-class architect, Marcel Breuer, and consists of a lakeside cluster of ten apartments and an administrative center. The apartments vary in size from one to three bedrooms and are assigned according to family needs.The apartments are attractive, cozy, easy to maintain, and fully furnished (towels and linens are provided, each kitchen has a complete sets of dishes, flatware, and cooking utensils). Central heating and air conditioning keep the apartments comfortable and each apartment has a brick fireplace. Each apartment includes access to wireless Internet.

Apartment Cleaning & Maintenance
The cleaning of the apartments is the responsibility of the Collegeville Institute residents. Mechanical maintenance and repairs are the responsibility of the Collegeville Institute.

Fees for Resident Scholars Program participants

Fees are $1,000 for one semester and $2,000 for an academic year.

Fees for Short Term Residencies
One week – $350
Two weeks – $630
Three weeks – $840
Four weeks – $1,120
Five weeks – $1,225
Six weeks – $1,470
Seven weeks – $1,680
Eight weeks – $1,715

Resident Scholars and their families are invited to enjoy the recreational facilities, grounds, sporting and cultural events, libraries, and other amenities of the Saint John’s campus.

Saint John’s University extends the following privileges to scholars:

• Borrowing privileges with Alcuin and Clemens Library, and access to resources at the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library.
• Use of physical education facilities in the Warner Palaestra Building (including the swimming pool, gymnasium, weight room, and racquetball courts) and the Lake Sagatagan Beach.
• Admittance to athletic events, concerts, plays, lectures, and other cultural events at Saint John’s and Saint Benedict’s (some events have an admission charge). The electronic Bulletin Board of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University lists many cultural events.

Please note that the Collegeville Institute is closed to all Resident Scholars from December 17, 2025 – January 11, 2026, for cleaning, maintenance and celebration of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Please note that the Collegeville Institute is closed to all Resident Scholars from December 17, 2026 – January 11, 2027, for cleaning, maintenance and celebration of the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

The Collegeville Institute welcomes spouses, partners, and children of Resident Scholars. Apartment accommodations vary according to family needs.

Over the years, our Resident Scholars program has hosted scholars from around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, People’s Republic of China, Peru, Poland, Scotland, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, and Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

We encourage applicants from abroad. Fluency in spoken English is required.

Driving
If you are driving to the Collegeville Institute, take the Saint John’s University Exit (#156) off I-94. At the top of the ramp, turn south into Saint John’s. Follow 1.2 miles on County Road 159. Just after the bus stop on the right-hand side, turn right on Fruit Farm Road. Go 200 yards. You’ll see the Collegeville Institute’s sign on the left. Turn into the long driveway; park along it. The Collegeville Institute offices are in the building marked “Butler Center”.

Address:
2475 Ecumenical Dr.
Collegeville, MN 56321
Campus Map

Flying
If you are flying, you will fly into the Minneapolis Saint Paul (MSP) airport. From MSP there are both shuttle and rental car options.

Groome Transportation runs a shuttle to Saint Cloud. Individuals will need to make further arrangements to Saint John’s campus.

You may reserve a car at the MSP airport. (Please allow ninety minutes to two hours of driving time to arrive at the Collegeville Institute.)

Arrival
Upon arrival, please check-in with our staff in the Butler Center, the building located in the middle of the Collegeville Institute campus on the level nearest the lake.

Due to allergies, animal sensitivities, and our wildlife refuge status, the Collegeville Institute is not able to accommodate pets. We encourage you to explore boarding options in your hometown since boarding options near the Collegeville Institute are quite limited.

There are numerous schools in the area. Our staff are happy to share with you more details regarding schools and family life in the area.

Kennedy Community School, PK-8 (public), Saint Joseph,

Discovery Elementary School, K-5 (public), Waite Park, MN

North Junior High School, 6-8 (public), Saint Cloud, MN

Apollo High School, 9-12 (public), Saint Cloud, MN

All Saints Academy, K-6 (parochial), Saint Joseph, MN

Cathedral High School, 7-12 (parochial), Saint Cloud, MN

Saint John’s Preparatory School, 5-12, (Benedictine, co-educational, day and boarding, International Baccalaureate college preparatory), Collegeville, MN

The Collegeville Institute is located adjacent to Stumpf Lake. Neither swimming nor winter activities are permitted on Stumpf Lake. We urge all residents and family members to exercise caution when they are near the water/ice.

You have two options to receive your mail while you are here.

OPTION 1
You may choose to pick up your mail in Butler Center at the Collegeville Institute.
Mail is collected from the Post Office by office staff each day. The mail is then sorted and available that afternoon in Butler Center. There is no charge for this service.

Address:
Your Name/Collegeville Institute
2475 Ecumenical Dr.
PO Box 8000
Collegeville, MN 56321

OPTION 2
A US Post Office is located in Guild Hall on the Saint John’s campus. Residents of the Collegeville Institute may rent a box for their regular mail. Contact the Post Office at 320-363-2760 for further details.

Many of our scholars come to the Collegeville Institute from different parts of the country, and indeed, the world. In light of that, below is the local area/environment.

The Collegeville Institute’s campus is part of the almost-3000-acre Saint John’s community in Collegeville, Minnesota. This community includes Saint John’s Abbey, University and Preparatory School, the Liturgical Press, the Hill Monastic Manuscript Library, the Episcopal House of Prayer, and the Collegeville Institute. The Collegeville Institute is located adjacent to Stumpf Lake. Please note that neither swimming, nor winter activities on the ice are permitted on this lake (although swimming and winter recreational opportunities are available nearby on the university campus). We urge all residents and family members to exercise caution when they are near the water. Woods, several other lakes, a wildlife refuge, an arboretum, a bird sanctuary, and a wetlands restoration area characterize this rural setting.

Given our rural location, there is very limited access to public transportation. For this reason, we recommend that you bring a car if at all possible. However, if that does not work for you, the university provides limited bus service to local areas, taxis are available from the nearby city of Saint Cloud, and increasingly, Uber and Lyft drivers are available. The Collegeville Institute is located about 10 minutes by car from the nearest grocery store, and about 15 minutes by car from the nearest movie theatre and shopping mall. There is a regional hospital in St. Cloud.

In addition, there are a number of convenient on-campus services available, such as:

• campus dining services;
• Abbey church for worship services;
• bus service between the campuses of the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University, and
• limited bus service to the towns of Saint Joseph and Saint Cloud;
• a campus bookstore where some limited supplies (food, personal hygiene items, household supplies, sweatshirts and t-shirts, books, etc.) could be purchased.

Vehicles
A heavy-duty battery is essential during the winter in Minnesota. Engine and washer fluid may need to be adjusted for residents coming from warmer climates.

Saint John’s University Bookstore has a small convenience store area with a variety of items. There are many other shopping centers in the Saint Cloud area, about 20 minutes by car from the Collegeville Institute, including Crossroads Mall.

Many scholars do their own meal preparation in their apartments; however, there are a variety of campus meal plans available. Please ask our staff for assistance if you’d like to explore a meal plan option.

There are two grocery stores in Saint Joseph, located about five miles from the Collegeville Institute, Minnesota Street Co-Op and Coborn’s. There are a number of other grocery stores and shopping centers 20 minutes by car away in Saint Cloud.

Washers and dryers are located in Butler Center, the Collegeville Institute’s administration building.

Participants need to bring their own laptop computers, iPads, or tablets. The Collegeville Institute has wireless internet, as does much of the Saint John’s campus.

Please plan to bring a cell phone with you. There are no landline telephones in the residences. There is an emergency phone service available for your use.

Each scholar must have health insurance for him/herself and all family members (spouse, partner, dependents) who will be living at the Collegeville Institute. Health insurance is NOT available through the Collegeville Institute’s or Saint John’s University’s medical plans. Proof of insurance required prior to arrival.

Saint Cloud Hospital is a major regional medical center, located 35 minutes from the Collegeville Institute.

Monday – Thursday: 8:00am – 12 midnight
Friday: 8:00am – 10:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am – 10:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am – 12 midnight
* Summer/holiday hours change. Please check the Alcuin Library site for an updated schedule.
A campus ID card, which will be issued to you upon arrival, is required to access library resources.

Collegeville Institute guests are welcome, and encouraged, to join the monastic community in prayer at Saint John’s Abbey and Saint Benedict’s Monastery. The monastic community will help seat you and guide you through the services.

Saint John’s Abbey Prayer Schedule

Saint Benedict’s Monastery Prayer Schedule