Location
Located on the banks of the Fox River in De Pere (a residential community of 23,000) in northeastern Wisconsin, the St. Norbert campus comprises 40+ buildings on 112 scenic landscaped acres. Students also have easy access to the neighboring all-American city of Green Bay and its suburbs, with a metropolitan population of about 300,000. A safe, supportive atmosphere exists both on campus and in the surrounding community, which is frequently celebrated for its outstanding quality of life.
St. Norbert continues to experience great momentum with record-high enrollment in recent years, as well as outstanding academic achievements. And as the students come, so do the facilities and programs to support them. Recently opened is St. Norbert's $40 million Gehl-Mulva Science Center, also home to the Medical College of Wisconsin's northeast Wisconsin campus. Integrated facilities for hands-on learning, collaborative research and interdisciplinary study abound in this LEED-certified, state-of-the-art science center. Newer still is the $26 million Mulva Family Fitness & Sports Center, complete with competition-grade swimming pool, opened in 2016.
The past several years have also seen the opening of the Cassandra Voss Center that focuses on women's and gender studies and programming around issues of identity, and Dudley Birder Hall, a performing-arts space; both occupy renovated, historic buildings. The food at Michels Commons has been ranked the best among all colleges in Wisconsin and 15th-best in the nation.
An outdoor athletics complex serves as the practice and competition venue for Green Knights football, soccer, and track and field. The Miriam B. and James J. Mulva library lower level is home to a high-tech collaborative workspace for students.
Among other facilities, a campus center and marina located on the Fox River offer students a relaxing environment to grab a bite to eat, sit out on the deck or in the gazebo, or gather for a concert or movie. The campus coffee shop, Ed's, is another favorite student hangout.
Only a five-minute drive from campus, Green Bay and all its restaurants, shopping malls, museums and performing arts opportunities can be easily accessed by students when they've exhausted the shops and boutiques of charming De Pere.
The campus is “beautiful, small, and clean,” while the dorms are less so. “My mom went to St. Norbert and says the same dorms that I have lived in were nasty when she was here,” gripes a junior. Also, “a revitalization of the athletic facilities would be a welcome change.” Students really rave about SNC’s “close-knit” community, where “You know everyone and they know you.” Clubs and organizations are plentiful. “If you are outgoing and love to get involved, you can go very far,” promises a junior. Athletics are “huge.” The football team is historically pretty good and “hockey games are a blast.” Religion is noticeable, but it’s not pervasive. A plethora of “service opportunities” allows students to volunteer locally as well as around the country and abroad. The party scene here is “somewhat lively.” There are “those who party hard and others who don’t at all.” For the drinking crowd, bars and parties thrown by the localized Greek system are popular. “Alternative nightlife” includes movies, concerts, and a decent array of on-campus activities. “There is no need for a car” at SNC but, if you’ve got one, Green Bay is just down the road.
