Saint Mary's College Admissions Facts

​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 of California Acceptance Rate: 80 percent
• Test Scores: 25th / 75th Percentile
  • SAT Critical Reading: 480 / 590
  • SAT Math: 470 / 590
  • SAT Writing: - / -
    • What these SAT numbers mean
    • SAT score comparison for California colleges
  • ACT Composite: 22 / 28
  • ACT English: 22 / 28
  • ACT Math: 20 / 27
    • What these ACT numbers mean
    • ACT score comparison for California colleges

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:

• San Jose State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• University of San Diego: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Pepperdine University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Cal Poly: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• University of California - Irvine: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Stanford University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

• University of California - Santa Cruz: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Loyola Marymount University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• Santa Clara University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• University of San Francisco: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph
• San Diego State University: Profile | GPA-SAT-ACT Graph

Saint Mary's and the Common Application

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

• Common Application essay tips and samples
• Short answer tips and samples
• Supplemental essay tips and samples

Data Source: National Center for Educational Statistics