Student Life
Living on Campus
The Annapolis campus, nestled between College Creek and the U.S. Naval Academy in the heart of the state capital, just off the Chesapeake Bay. It has been home to St. John's College since 1784. Here, students experience not only an unparalleled academic experience, but a close-knit community as well. The intentionally small student body and rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum cultivate this atmosphere – conversations started in the classroom often spill onto the quad after seminar, into the dorms or the coffee shop, or wherever students and tutors gather. Of course, the scope of student life includes more than the great books – the campus is also rich with recreational and social opportunities.
All freshmen live on campus, and upperclassmen are encouraged to do the same. The six historic dorms, including Campbell (1954 - above right), each house around 40 students and are situated around McDowell Hall (1789 - above left), the vibrant center of both academic and social life at St. John's. McDowell houses classrooms, a performance hall, the coffee shop, and the mailroom. This integrative residential arrangement fosters student interest and participation in a variety of activities, which range from study groups to musical clubs to athletics.
Two newer dorms, Gilliam and Spector (2006), provide spacious double and single rooms a little further removed from the hub, with a view of College Creek and a shared kitchen on each floor. Even when students choose to live off campus, housing is generally available within a few blocks, and many enjoy living in quaint apartments in refurbished historic homes.