Founded by Benedictine monks in 1889, Saint Leo University still shares its hilltop in Pasco County with a working abbey. The main campus is about 35 miles north of Tampa, beside Lake Jovita. It's a small Catholic university, and many of its students study online or at education centres across the country. On campus, business, cybersecurity, criminal justice and sport business are popular.
St. Leo, Florida, United States
Official website: saintleo.edu
1889
Private Catholic (Benedictine) university
Near Lake Jovita, Pasco County
$14,000 – $30,000
International students, undergraduate and graduate
$12,000 – $16,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on saintleo.edu before you apply.
MBA
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
MS Cybersecurity
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 79
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BA Criminal Justice
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
BA Sport Business
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Aug
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.0, TOEFL: 71
A small campus beside a lake and a Benedictine abbey.
Cybersecurity and criminal justice programmes.
A sport business degree with Tampa Bay teams nearby.
Cybersecurity graduates work in IT security for firms and government agencies.
Criminal justice graduates join law enforcement and corrections.
Business and sport business graduates find roles in Tampa's finance and sports sectors.
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
Rolling
Postgrad
Rolling
Campus is quiet and green, with residence halls, a lake and Saint Leo Abbey Church. Dade City is a few minutes away.
Tampa is under an hour's drive for jobs, beaches and the airport. Summers are hot and humid. A car makes life much easier.
Form I-20 issued by Saint Leo University
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Saint Leo reviews applications on a rolling basis. International students should apply at least three months before term to leave time for the I-20 and visa.
Programmes start in fall (August) and spring (January).
International students come in on an F-1 visa. The I-20 comes from Saint Leo University after you confirm your place and show you can cover a year of costs; you then pay the SEVIS fee, fill in the DS-160 and book your consulate interview.
The MBA, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice and sport business are popular. Undergraduates need a secondary school diploma and IELTS 6.0. Graduate programmes need a bachelor's degree and IELTS 6.5.
Saint Leo gives merit scholarships to most undergraduates at admission, including international students. Graduate awards are smaller.
