About

About St Bonaventure University

franciscan faith traditionsmall class sizesmaster level programsbusiness and nursing focus

St Bonaventure University is a private university in Saint Bonaventure, NY, known for its franciscan faith tradition, small class sizes, and master level programs. With an acceptance rate of 81%, Bona is accessible for most qualified applicants, typically enrolling around 571 students each year. Bona is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1050–1220, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. Bona offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $28,017 per year; the sticker price of $54,316 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

St Bonaventure University acceptance rate and admitted student profile

accessible for most qualified applicants

81%
Overall Accept Rate
1135
Median Admitted SAT
SATSubmitted score range: 1050 – 1220 (test optional)

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Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to St Bonaventure University

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
St. Bonaventure has a strong Franciscan identity rooted in values like humility, service, and community. If any of your experiences connect to those values, weave that into your personal statement or any supplemental writing, because it shows genuine alignment with the campus culture.
Application Strategy
If you are interested in journalism or communication, call out that interest explicitly in your application, because SBU's Jandoli School of Communication has a strong reputation and admissions readers will want to see that you know what you are applying for.

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Financial Aid & Cost

What St Bonaventure University actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$54k/yr$15.7k
30k-48k~$54k/yr$17.9k
48k-75k~$54k/yr$24.1k
75k-110k~$54k/yr$30.8k
110k+~$54k/yr$30.4k

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Personalize this page

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Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

70%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$49k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
12:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
1,739
Undergrad Enrollment
St Bonaventure University Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch