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st. john’s college
Santa Fe
Established nearly half a century ago to expand the St. John’s
student body without sacrificing the intimacy of a small
campus community, the Santa Fe campus has proven an
ideal location for the program. From its 250 acres at the base
of Monte Sol, students can look out on multiple mountain
ranges, taking in a grand panorama and timeless perspective
that in many ways mirrors their academic enterprise.
From the upper dorms, campus walkways lead to trails that beckon
students upward toward even greater views and longer hikes in the adjacent
Santa Fe National Forest. In the center of campus, two
large terraces—the Upper Placita and the lower Fishpond
Placita—bring students and tutors together to share
conversation, music, and fresh air; cascading toward the
lower terrace, a waterfall tumbles into a pool that teems
with vegetation and koi, creating both a meeting place and
a meditative atmosphere. Surrounding this central space,
the administration and classroom buildings, science
laboratories, student center, and fine arts
building extend downhill toward the
library and lower dorms to a student activities center
with modern gymnasium and adjoining tennis courts,
soccer field, and track.
About two miles to the northwest lies the center of
Santa Fe, NewMexico, the oldest capital city in the nation,
with a population of 62,000.
Here, world-renowned
cultural offerings—including art galleries,
music venues, and historic sites—join with
bookstores, famous restaurants, and shops
to create a destination that attracts visitors
from around the world.