Admit rate has held near 100% across the last 5 years, though the latest figure above (32%) falls outside that window. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Conception Seminary College is not your typical liberal arts college—it’s a deeply specific, mission-driven institution that exists to form Roman Catholic priests. Located on a rural 30-acre campus in Missouri, its entire academic, spiritual, and communal life is oriented toward preparing men for the priesthood, with a tight-knit community of about 40 undergraduates and an intensely personal 5:1 student-to-faculty ratio. This singular focus creates an environment where prayer, philosophy, and pastoral formation are woven into the fabric of every day.
Admission requirements
Test scores required
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
40
In-state tuition
$26,206
Out-of-state tuition
$26,206
Campus Setting
Rural
Graduation Rate
50%
Housing Cost (Yearly)
$6,521 - $14,990
Median Earnings (10yr)
$50,430
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
5:1
First-Year Retention Rate
75%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$50,430
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.1×
Graduation rate
50%
First-year retention
75%
Pell (lower-income) share
20%
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Financial health
2.7 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
77
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
21°F
Annual rain
38.4"
Annual snow
21.8"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
15
Scholarly works
83
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Conception Seminary College?
Conception Seminary College's acceptance rate is approximately 32% (Conception, MO), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Conception Seminary College cost?
At Conception Seminary College, the average net price (after aid) is about $24,558 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Conception Seminary College?
Conception Seminary College enrolls approximately 40 undergraduate students.
Where is Conception Seminary College located?
Conception Seminary College is located in Conception, MO.
Admissions
Admission to Conception Seminary College is a dual process: meeting the college's academic requirements and, more critically, being accepted as a candidate for the priesthood by a diocese or religious order. The reported varies widely among sources, from 100% to 31.8%, but the canonical figure is 32%. Applicants must submit official ACT or SAT scores (with an ACT range reported from 19–28 to 1–5 across different sources) and have completed at least 16 units of college preparatory coursework. The admissions office can be reached at (660) 944-2886. Given the institution's unique purpose, the evaluation extends far beyond test scores and grades to encompass a candidate's spiritual vocation and suitability for religious life.
The academic program is explicitly designed as a holistic formation, integrating intellectual, spiritual, pastoral, and human dimensions. The curriculum is a liberal arts foundation heavily adapted to emphasize philosophy and theology, aiming for a balance between breadth and depth. The college offers only three majors, with the most degrees conferred in liberal arts/general studies. Recent commencement exercises illustrate the outcomes: in one year, five seminarians received Bachelor's degrees in Religious Studies, 17 were awarded Advanced Diplomas in Religious Studies, and 22 received other certificates. The student-to-faculty ratio is an exceptionally intimate 5:1, ensuring highly personalized instruction. Academic support includes remediation for entering students, an ESL program, and advanced placement opportunities.
Life at Conception is monastic in rhythm and communal in essence, entirely shaped by its religious purpose. The campus is rural, housing roughly 41 undergraduate students on a 30-acre campus near Maryville, Missouri. Community life is foundational, beginning each day with communal prayer in the chapel and extending through structured and informal interactions. Housing costs are reported between $6,521 and $14,990 per year. The community integrates students from the Language and Culture Center (LCC), enriching the seminary with diverse cultural perspectives. There are no traditional collegiate athletics or secular clubs; the shared vocation and liturgical schedule form the core of student life.
Outcomes for Conception Seminary College graduates are measured not just in degrees but in progression toward ordination and service. The graduation rate is reported variably: 37%, 50%, 52% for four years, and 64% for six years, but the canonical figure is 50%. The first-year retention rate is 75%. Post-graduate earnings data shows a median income of $36,427 one year after graduation and $45,519 after five years. The canonical figure for median earnings 10 years after entry is $50,430. The college enrolls approximately 40 undergraduates, and its financial resilience score is 81 out of 100 compared to peers.
The published cost of education is $44,423 for a full year, with tuition per semester listed at $13,767. However, the canonical average net price after aid is $24,558. Other sources report an average of $35,625 after scholarships and grants, with an average aid package of $34,524. Grant and scholarship aid is reported to reach 100% of freshman students, with an average award amount of $2,912. The college offers its own grants and scholarships and provides a Net Price Calculator on its website. Financial aid contact information is: Phone: (660) 944-3105; Email: [email protected].
Conception Seminary College stands alone as an institution with a single, profound mission: the formation of Roman Catholic priests. This isn't a college with a theology department; it is a theology and formation department structured as a college. Every element—from the 5:1 student-faculty ratio and the liberal arts curriculum centered on philosophy, to the rural 30-acre campus and the daily rhythm of communal prayer—is designed to integrate academic, spiritual, pastoral, and human development. The community is tiny (around 40 undergraduates) and entirely composed of men preparing for holy orders, creating an environment of shared purpose unmatched in American higher education. Its outcomes are not tracked in conventional corporate recruitment but in lives dedicated to spiritual service, supported by a financial aid system that reportedly reaches all incoming students.
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