Saint Mary's College Admissions Facts

SAT Scores, Acceptance Rate, Financial Aid, Graduation Rate, and More

A statue at Saint Mary's College of California
A statue at Saint Mary's College of California. Franco Folini / Flickr
by Allen Grove
Dr. Allen Grove is an Alfred University English professor and a college admissions expert with 20 years of experience helping students transition to college.
Updated November 08, 2017

​Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California accepts most applicants each year, with a high acceptance rate of 80 percent, although applicants tend to have strong academic records. Students interested in applying to the school will need to submit an application (the school accepts the Common Application; more on that below), high school transcripts, a letter of recommendation, SAT or ACT scores, and a personal essay.

Check out Saint Mary's website for more information on how to apply.

Admissions Data (2016)

Saint Mary's College Description

Saint Mary's College of California is a Catholic, Lasallian, liberal arts college located in Moraga, California, about 20 miles east of San Francisco. The college has an 11 to 1 student/faculty ratio and an average class size of 20. Students can choose from 38 majors, and among undergraduates, business is the most popular program. Specifically, the most popular majors are Accounting, Business Administration, Communication Studies, Drama, English, Liberal Studies, Psychology.

One of the defining features of the Saint Mary's curriculum is the Collegiate Seminar, a series of four courses that focus on the major works of Western civilization. All students, including those in pre-professional fields, take these seminars—two in the first year, and two more before graduation. In athletics, the Saint Mary's Gaels compete in the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference.

Enrollment (2016)

  • Total Enrollment: 3,908 (2,802 undergraduates)
  • Gender Breakdown: 40 percent male / 60 percent female
  • 93 percent full-time

Costs (2016-17)

  • Tuition and Fees: $44,360
  • Books: $1,107 (why so much?)
  • Room and Board: $14,880
  • Other Expenses: $2,700
  • Total Cost: $63,047

Saint Mary's College Financial Aid (2015 -16)

  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 96 percent
  • Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
    • Grants: 95 percent
    • Loans: 61 percent
  • Average Amount of Aid
    • Grants: $25,400
    • Loans: $8,018

Graduation and Retention Rates:

  • First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 86 percent
  • 4-Year Graduation Rate: 60 percent
  • 6-Year Graduation Rate: 73 percent

Intercollegiate Athletic Programs:

  • Men's Sports: Basketball, Golf, Cross Country, Soccer, Tennis, Track and Field, Baseball
  • Women's Sports: Lacrosse, Rowing, Softball, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Volleyball, Cross Country

If You Like Saint Mary's College, You May Also Like These Schools:

Saint Mary's and the Common Application

Saint Mary's College uses the Common Application. These articles can help guide you:

Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics