For international students and recruitment partners evaluating U.S. universities, Murphy offered important context about rankings that’s often missed.

“We’re ranked in the top 50 in the U.S. News & World Report regional ranking for schools in the Northeast,” she noted with pride. But she was quick to add context about what regional rankings mean.

“We’re ranked with universities that have more masters programs. Teaching is our focus, but there are still many opportunities for research” Murphy explained. She cited the funded Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program as one example, noting that it pairs students with faculty mentors and provides stipends for summer research experiences.

The key distinction? “Research universities are really focused on research. Regional universities, like St. Joseph’s, are focused on the student experience and learning.”
For students, this means something concrete: “You want to be at a place where faculty are focused on teaching you, not just managing research labs and working with doctoral students,” Murphy emphasized.

Recognition Beyond Rankings

St. Joseph’s excellence hasn’t gone unnoticed. Murphy highlighted several meaningful recognitions:

“Money Magazine judges us not only on the rankings and what others say about us, but the value of the education, how much our students are earning after graduation, our high graduation and retention rates.”

The university is also consistently featured in the U.S. News & World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue, included in “Forbes’ list of America’s Top Colleges”, and recognized by Colleges of Distinction as one of “New York’s Colleges of Distinction” for its commitment to excellent teaching, student engagement, and successful outcomes

Preparing for Professional Success

St. Joseph’s doesn’t just teach theory—they prepare students for the real world through experiential learning opportunities.

Murphy described their industry engagement events: “In addition to career fairs and information sessions, we host a number of networking events that provide opportunities for exposure and create real lived experiences of connecting with industry leaders and hiring managers in a low pressure environment”.

To set students up for success during these events, the preparation is thorough: “Before these events, students are instructed on how to prepare, how to dress professionally, and receive guidance on those other soft skills,” Murphy explained. “It’s often set up like a cocktail party in our parlors.”

This attention to professional development reflects the university’s understanding that success requires more than academic knowledge—it requires the soft skills and confidence to thrive in professional environments.

Programs That Launch Careers

Through our partnership with St. Joseph’s, Quallege connects international students to high-demand undergraduate and graduate STEM programs.

These programs combine St. Joseph’s commitment to personalized education with preparation for in-demand career fields—particularly valuable for international students seeking Optional Practical Training (OPT) opportunities in the United States.

A Community That Feels Like Home

Perhaps Murphy’s most compelling point was this simple observation: “Having that home feeling and that support plays into the reason why we have good graduation rates.”

For international students thousands of miles from their families, this isn’t a small thing. It’s everything.

St. Joseph’s offers something increasingly rare: a university where you’re not just another student ID number, where faculty know your name, where support systems actually support you, and where the mission of accessibility and service—established over a century ago—remains alive in daily practice.

“We’re here to develop talent,” Murphy reminded us. “Teachers first.”

Why This Partnership Matters

We’re thrilled to partner with Christine Murphy and the St. Joseph’s team. Their century-long commitment to accessible, values-driven education, combined with their focus on student development and their strategic New York location, creates exceptional opportunities for international students.

For students seeking a supportive community in one of the world’s greatest cities, outstanding value for their investment, and a university that sees them as individuals to be developed rather than talent to be managed—St. Joseph’s University, New York offers something truly special.

Welcome to the Quallege network, St. Joseph’s.