Historic Catholic college reborn as a career-focused institution offering certifications, trades, and college-level courses.
Saint Joseph's College currently operates as a career-focused institution offering four distinct learning paths: certification programs in health science and veterinary science, college-level courses and executive education, CDL Academy training (Class A and B licenses), and building and trades programs. The college is unaccredited as of 2017 when it resigned from the Higher Learning Commission. Historically (1932–2017), it was accredited by HLC and known for its integrated Core Program covering history, political science, natural science, literature, and philosophy. Current offerings include clinical medical assistant, phlebotomy technician, EKG technician, nursing assistant, professional biller and coder certifications, and ACE-recommended transfer courses in sciences and humanities.
Founded in 1889 as a secondary school to assimilate Native Americans, Saint Joseph's College evolved into a liberal arts institution. The college suspended academic operations in February 2017 due to financial constraints requiring $100 million ($27M debt, $35M infrastructure, $38M re-engineering). Since 2020, the college has worked to restore programming through partnerships with Marian University, Ivy Tech, Calumet College of Saint Joseph, University of St. Thomas–Houston, and Bethel University. Over 200 students have graduated from new programs since summer 2020, with offerings expanding to include health science certifications (2020), veterinary certifications, CDL Academy, and building trades programs (by 2025).
The 180-acre rural campus in Rensselaer features distinctive Romanesque-style Chapel with reflecting pond, historic Drexel Hall with unique atrium, the Core academic building, and a private recreational lake formed from an old stone quarry. The main academic building burned in 1973 but was rebuilt. Notable historical events include hosting Chicago Bears training camp (1944–1974) and filming of the 1971 movie Brian's Song on campus. The college maintains its historic character while adapting facilities for modern career-focused programming.
Saint Joseph's athletic teams were the Pumas, competing in NCAA Division II primarily through the Great Lakes Valley Conference (1977–2017). The college fielded 15 varsity sports including football, basketball, baseball, soccer, and track and field. Notable achievements include a 1956 NAIA Football National Championship tie, 1996 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship runner-up finish, and multiple conference titles. The college hosted an annual 'Little 500' go-kart race similar to Purdue's Grand Prix. The Puma mascot is unique among U.S. post-secondary institutions.