Saint Mary's College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Notre Dame, Indiana. It enrolls 1,458 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
66/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes77
Value35
Affordability28
Selectivity60
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76%, Saint Mary's College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1130 – 1325
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
26 – 30
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Saint Mary's College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Saint Mary's College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $25,292 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$25,292
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
24%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
56%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$53,230
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,260
Room & Board (off-campus)
$14,850
Books & Supplies
$300
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,700
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$1,700
Total Cost of Attendance
$66,478
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$16,760
$30,001 – $48,000
$18,152
$48,001 – $75,000
$21,014
$75,001 – $110,000
$23,680
Over $110,000
$30,443
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$12,00025%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $19,759
↓ $7,241
No Pell $25,000
↓ $2,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
77% of full-time students who enrolled at Saint Mary's College graduate within six years, and 86% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
77%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
86%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Strong completion signals. Most students who start, finish.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Saint Mary's College earn a median of $59,354 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$59,354
Earning > $25K
89%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
6.9 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 95% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Saint Mary's College is home to 1,458 students, a small, close-knit community.
Total Enrolled
1,458
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
20%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.3%1,083
Hispanic 16.4%239
Other 3.6%53
Black 2.2%32
Asian 1.5%22
International 1.0%14
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Saint Mary's College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbNotre Dame, Indiana
Housing
Strongly residential1,395 beds for 1,458 students
Adult Learners
1%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Women's college
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Saint Mary's College offers
a varied set of programs:
38 distinct programs across
19 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Mary's College is 8:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
8:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$398M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$70,061
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
154 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
23
15%
$93,154
Associate Professors
49
32%
$72,912
Assistant Professors
55
36%
$65,133
Lecturers
9
6%
$62,408
No Rank
18
12%
$51,675
Pros & Cons of Saint Mary's College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Saint Mary's College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Strong six-year graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Saint Mary's College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Saint Mary's College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Saint Mary's College.
Is Saint Mary's College hard to get into?
Saint Mary's College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76%.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Mary's College?
Saint Mary's College has an acceptance rate of 76%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Saint Mary's College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Mary's College scored between 1130 and 1325 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Saint Mary's College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Saint Mary's College scored between 26 and 30 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Saint Mary's College cost?
The average net price after aid at Saint Mary's College is $25,292 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Saint Mary's College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $59,354 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $25,292 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Saint Mary's College known for?
Saint Mary's College is best known for its programs in Nursing, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Saint Mary's College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Saint Mary's College are $59,354, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Saint Mary's College accredited?
Yes. Saint Mary's College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Saint Mary's College?
Saint Mary's College enrolls 1,458 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Mary's College?
Saint Mary's College graduates 77% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Saint Mary's College a public or private college?
Saint Mary's College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Saint Mary's College located?
Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, Indiana.
What programs does Saint Mary's College offer?
Saint Mary's College offers 38 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Psychology, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Mary's College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Saint Mary's College is 8:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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