University of St. Thomas
The University of St. Thomas is a private, Catholic university with campuses in St. Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, making it the largest private university in the state. Its Twin Cities location gives students direct access to one of the country’s highest concentrations of Fortune 500 headquarters per capita, and the university’s Catholic mission emphasizes ethical leadership, responsibility, and service to the common good across all of its programs.
Opus College of Business
Founded in 1985 and renamed in 2006 in recognition of St. Thomas alumnus and Opus Group founder Gerald Rauenhorst, the Opus College of Business emphasizes what it calls practical, personal, and collaborative learning — built around small classes and close faculty mentorship.
Consulting experience built into the college’s DNA
Opus operates its own hands-on consulting infrastructure for students to gain real client experience before graduation:
The Small Business Institute provides student- and faculty-supported consulting services to small businesses across the Twin Cities
The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers free, confidential consulting to startups and established companies alike, giving students exposure to real strategic and operational challenges
Practical learning as a core philosophy
Opus describes its approach as “The Opus Way” — mentoring students toward durable, transferable skills like clear communication and sound judgment through consulting projects, internships, competitions, and community partnerships, ensuring every student graduates with a portfolio of applied work, not just coursework.
Specialized centers extend the reach
Beyond general business consulting, Opus houses the Schulze School of Entrepreneurship, a nationally recognized Family Business Center, and a Real Estate center — giving students channels into more specialized advisory and consulting work depending on their interests.
Strong regional employer ties
The college actively partners with regional companies and recruiters for student consulting projects, professional development, and research collaborations, backed by a dedicated Career Development Center offering coaching and recruiting event access for both students and alumni.
Programs
Undergraduate, graduate, and executive education offerings span a wide range of majors, MBA and specialty master’s programs, and graduate certificates — with instruction delivered primarily in person at the Minneapolis campus, supplemented by online and hybrid formats.
