Admissions FAQs

Benilde-St. Margaret's is a Catholic, college-preparatory school serving more than 1,000 students in grades 6-12, making us one of the largest Catholic schools in the Twin Cities. Our middle school serves grades 6-8, and our high school serves grades 9-12.

The best way to get to know BSM is to experience it in person. We encourage families to visit campus, meet our faculty and students, and see daily life as a Red Knight. You can also contact our admissions team to start a conversation.

Our admissions team is here to help at every step. You can reach us by phone at 952-915-4345 or by email at admissions@bsmschool.org, or request information online.

BSM offers the opportunities of a large private school, including advanced coursework, championship athletics, and dynamic arts, with the personal attention of a close-knit community where every student is named, known, and loved. Grounded in Catholic identity and welcoming to all, BSM forms confident leaders prepared for college and for life. Learn more about The BSM difference.

Your student spends more than 1,000 hours a year in school. Visiting the BSM campus lets your family see firsthand what those hours look like in our halls, classrooms, and on the field or stage, helping you match BSM to the needs of your student and family.

BSM offers several ways to experience campus. You can attend an Open House, spend a day shadowing a current Red Knight, cheer on the Red Knights at a home event, or schedule a campus tour with a member of our admissions team.

Open House events will be posted throughout the year. If you would like to visit campus before then, view the options on our Visit Campus page.

When you are ready to apply, complete our account set-up form, and a member of our team will initiate the creation of your family's admissions account. You will then receive more information through Blackbaud, our application system. If you already have an account, you can sign in to work through your checklist or check your status.

BSM accepts applications for grades 6-12 on a rolling basis as space allows. Applications submitted by the January 15 early-action deadline receive an admissions decision via email in mid-February.

A complete application includes the BSM official application form, transcript information from the last two years, a recommendation form sent to your selected educator, a casual introduction to your prospective Red Knight, and an admissions exam for students entering grades 6-8. See the full list of required items on our apply page.

Our admissions team takes a whole-student approach, considering each applicant as a person rather than any single measure. Academic record, admissions testing, the educator recommendation, and a student's behavior and attendance are all weighed together to determine whether BSM is the right fit for your student and family.

BSM's mission is to recruit, accept, and enroll students who can be successful here. Our current students meet or exceed their academic potential, aspire to continue on to college, contribute to our community with a sense of belonging, prepare to succeed in a global society, and remain open to growing in their faith.

Yes. Students entering grades 6-9 complete an admissions exam as part of the application. Applicants for grades 6, 7, and 8 take a middle school-specific exam.

Admissions testing details for incoming 6th through 8th grade students are listed on our apply page. Contact our admissions team if you have questions about scheduling.

Tuition assistance is need-based aid awarded annually to families who demonstrate financial need. BSM uses Tuition Aid Data Services (TADS) to determine each family's need and typically supports 15 to 20% of the student body with assistance. More than $1.9 million was awarded for the 2025-2026 school year, with an average award of $9,000. Learn more on our Tuition & Affordability page.

The priority deadline for TADS applications is December 1. Applications submitted by this date receive priority consideration, so meeting the deadline is to your family's advantage. BSM continues to accept and review applications on a rolling basis afterward as funds allow. Awards are only considered for students who have been accepted.

TADS provides BSM with a calculation of what a family should be able to contribute toward tuition. The formula includes a number of variables, such as assets, liabilities, income, family size, and the number of students enrolled in tuition-charging schools.

The first round of award letters is sent in February. After that, TADS applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis, and letters are sent on a rolling basis. For newly accepted students, award information is shared along with the admissions decision.

Families reapply for tuition assistance each year. While aid is not automatic, BSM is committed to making every effort to ensure your family's demonstrated need is met each school year.

Yes. BSM offers merit-based scholarships, including the Pietas, Veritas, and Scientia scholarships, for qualifying students. To be considered, students need a complete application, at least a 3.0 GPA or equivalent, standardized testing that meets or exceeds benchmarks, a strong attendance record, and one additional recommendation. Priority consideration is given to applicants entering in 6th, 7th, and 9th grade.

Yes. Families with three or more students enrolled at the same time receive a $5,000 grant against total tuition. BSM also offers a 10% tuition discount for students whose parents are employed by schools, parishes, and other institutions of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis.

There is no application fee. Students pay an enrollment fee. Students who participate in athletics and activities are charged co-curricular fees, which help BSM continue offering a wide range of high-quality programs. Families who use the on-site Taher food service pay that organization directly. There are also potential bus fees and other potential fees throughout the school year.
 

Yes. BSM is proud to welcome international students, who add a global perspective to our community. Students from China, France, Japan, Rwanda, South Korea, Vietnam, and more have studied with us and become part of the Red Knight experience.

International students apply through a program approved by BSM, such as Nacel Open Door or Public and Private School F-1 Exchange. Admission is based on transcripts, the TOEFL or TOEFL Junior test, an interview, and our standards.