What defines a successful college graduate? By traditional metrics, St. John’s College in Annapolis stands out for cultivating alumni who flourish across diverse professional landscapes. From the intricacies of law and medicine to the dynamic worlds of academia and Wall Street, from the realms of politics and military service to the cutting-edge fields of information technology and fashion design, St. John’s graduates make their mark. Their educational journey, rooted in the college’s unique curriculum at St John’s Annapolis, equips them to excel in virtually any sector they choose to enter post-graduation.
A remarkable 70% of St. John’s alumni pursue graduate studies, a testament to the college’s academic rigor and the intellectual curiosity it instills. St. John’s College in Annapolis proudly ranks in the top 2% of US colleges and universities for the proportion of alumni who attain PhDs. It further distinguishes itself by being in the top 1% for humanities degrees and the top 4% for science and engineering degrees awarded to alumni. Since 1990, the college has fostered an impressive cadre of scholars, including 13 Fulbright Scholars, 6 Rhodes Scholars, 6 Goldwater Scholars, and 5 Truman Scholars, all emerging from the St John’s Annapolis campus.
Beyond impressive statistics, St. John’s College alumni frequently describe their college experience as profoundly transformative, both personally and professionally. These are not just anecdotes but recurring themes in alumni testimonials:
“St. John’s prepared me to become a quick learner, to think on my feet, and, most importantly, to know when I didn’t know something. Every day, I rely on the foundation in philosophical inquiry that I found at St John’s Annapolis.” —Senior Manager of Strategic Planning and Research, American Honda Motor Company (class of 1980).
“There are days when having been to St. John’s almost seems like an unfair advantage compared to my colleagues. I mean, if I can figure out the Maxwell Equations, or muddle through the Principia Mathematica, how hard can it be to have the confidence that I can figure out some policy issue?” —Diplomat, US Department of State, Iraq (class of 1988)
“It’s extraordinary that ideas I encountered over 40 years ago at St John’s Annapolis are still so vital to my life and work. Perhaps that’s the promise of Great Books and a Great Books education: that its value to you will increase, rather than decrease, over time.” —Screenwriter and Director (class of 1964)
To further support students’ journeys, Career Services at St John’s Annapolis provides robust assistance in job applications, interview preparation, graduate program selection, and internship acquisition. More than half of the student body engages in summer internships, many supported by college funding, enhancing their practical experience and career readiness.
The legacy of notable “Johnnies” from St John’s Annapolis includes figures like Francis Scott Key, the writer of the US national anthem; Ahmet Ertegun, the founder of Atlantic Records; Lucy Tamlin, a U.S. Ambassador; Salvatore Scibona, a celebrated novelist; and Warren Winiarski, the founder of Stag’s Leap Vineyards. These accomplished individuals exemplify the diverse paths to success paved by a St. John’s education in Annapolis.
