About Saint Mary’s College of California

Founded in 1863, Saint Mary’s College of California. is a Private college. Located in California, which is a city setting in California, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 2,802 full time undergraduate students, and 1,106 full time graduate students.

The Saint Mary’s College of California Academic calendar runs on a Four-one-four plan basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 11:1. There are 214 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Saint Mary’s College of California include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.

Quick Facts

Acceptance Rate80%
Application Deadline
Application Fee55
SAT Range950-1160
ACT Range22-28

Admissions at SMC are considered Less Selective, with ,20% of all applicants being admitted.

In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 12 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.

89% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 62% were in the top quarter, and 28% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.

STUDENT LIFE

We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Saint Mary’s College of California.

Saint Mary’s College of California REVIEWS

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  • How would you rate on-campus housing?

    59 Students rated on-campus housing 3.4 stars. 8 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate off-campus housing?

    49 Students rated off-campus housing 2.4 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus food?

    62 Students rated campus food 2.6 stars. 3 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate campus facilities?

    64 Students rated campus facilities 4.1 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate class size?

    64 Students rated class size 4.7 stars. 75 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate school activities?

    64 Students rated school activities 3.9 stars. 31 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate local services?

    64 Students rated local services 3.6 stars. 33 % gave the school a 5.0.

  • How would you rate academics?

    64 Students rated academics 3.8 stars. 30 % gave the school a 5.0.

What's your overall opinion of Saint Mary’s College of California?

15 Students rated Saint Mary’s College of California

Melanie - 05/03/2021

Saint Mary's is a fun environment to be in. I love the small community you get to make connections with so many people and it makes you feel welcome in such a new community. I loved living campus this semester and meeting new people to make lasting connections

Karina - 12/30/2020

Saint Mary's is a Liberal Arts College where a Lasallian education is used to promote community and social justice. Though the campus is on the smaller side, the beautiful landscape and wildlife make up for it. In terms of academics, students can explore their passions and interests through a plethora of fun classes. Professors are passionate about their work and always make it a point to be available for any questions their students may have. Class sizes are small, giving students the opportunity to create strong relationships with their professors. On campus housing gives students the opportunity to immerse oneself within the Gael community and make life-long friendships. Saint Mary's is a place where excelling academically and socially is a piece of cake.

Karina - 12/30/2020

Saint Mary's is a Liberal Arts College where a Lasallian education is used to promote community and social justice. Though the campus is on the smaller side, the beautiful landscape and wildlife make up for it. In terms of academics, students can explore their passions and interests through a plethora of fun classes. Professors are passionate about their work and always make it a point to be available for any questions their students may have. Class sizes are small, giving students the opportunity to create strong relationships with their professors. On campus housing gives students the opportunity to immerse oneself within the Gael community and make life-long friendships. Saint Mary's is a place where excelling academically and socially is a piece of cake.

ELIZABETH - 09/29/2020

its really nice!

Saint Mary’s College of California FAQS

  1. What is the Acceptance Rate at Saint Mary’s College of California?

    The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Saint Mary’s College of California is 80%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020 , _____ students were offered admission. The number of males who applied was _____ vs the number of females which was _____.

  2. What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

    The entire college "shopping" process can be very stressful and alot of times choosing to attend a junior college seems easier. When faced with the thought that college is the main force that molds and shapes you into the person you will be in the future, High School seniors become intimidated and often times imagine that finding this "dream school" is simply impossible. How can one school not only fit your personality now but also fit the qualifications for the person you want to become in the future. Honestly, this question is easier to answer then expected. Pick whatever school feels right to you. Make as many college visits as possible and once you find the school you are supposed to be at for the next four years it's going to hit you like a ton of bricks. Somehow, the qualifiactions you had such as: teacher to student ratio, location, weather, tuition, on-campus dorming, tutoring services, intramural sports, job availability, possible scholarships (which are all important aspects to consider) all come together to form the school you feel most comfortable at. Oftentimes the best decisions in life that make you the happiest are the ones that felt right.

    Read all  76 answers
  3. What's unique about your campus?

    The best thing about Saint Mary's is the unique set of traditions which make up the school. Saint Mary's is guided by the Catholic, Liberal Arts, and Lasallian traditions which really give it a warm, community feeling. Saint Mary's is a really close-knit school where in my brief time here, I have already developed many new friendships and found ways to become involved on campus.

    Read all  19 answers
  4. Describe how your school looks to someone who's never seen it.

    Saint Mary's College of California is a small, quiet Catholic school with a focus on developing students to serve others, and creating a strong community on campus.

    Read all  16 answers
  5. What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

    I wish I knew that I was not going to be given as much financial aid as I need, because it is rediculous how in debt I am going to be after four years if I do not start to find more help.

    Read all  16 answers
  6. What kind of person should not attend this school?

    An eager student with an open mind. St. Mary's College of California allows you to have an incredible experience with the best academic and career advice and learning.

    Read all  14 answers
  7. What kind of person should attend this school?

    A person who attends this school should be ready to participate in their classes and ready to be recognized. You can't be anonymous here, but that's not a problem since pretty much everyone here is friendly (both the students and the professors). Other than that, I have no suggestions because all sorts of people come here.

    Read all  13 answers
  8. Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!

    This school's calendar in't quarter or semester based. Instead it has a two semester like terms and then a Jan term where students take one class, 2(+) hours a day, 4 days a week, for the month of January. This is a chance for students to take a class outside of their major. The classes offered during jan term are unique and may have theme. An example of a jan term class is "Art in the Bay Area", where students go to different museums and art galleries in the city and write reflections on what they've seen.

    Read all  12 answers
  9. What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?

    The worst thing about my school is since it is so small, the college experience is lost. There is not a football team and there is not much school spirit.

    Read all  12 answers
  10. Describe your favorite campus traditions.

    I would say that my school is known for three major things which help to show how diverse St. Mary's truly is. The first thing is a liberal arts education which helps each studentsto develope their own thoughts and views on the world around them. The second aspect would be the percentage of students which find jobs or are accepted to grad schools directly following college. The last thing would have to be that St. Mary's believes greatly in giving back to the community. Our goal is to make the world a better place to live in.

    Read all  10 answers
  11. Describe the students at your school.

    eager to learn, friendly, outgoing, love campus basketball team

    Read all  9 answers
  12. What do you brag about most when you tell your friends about your school?

    To me, the greatest things about St. Mary's are my academic program (called Integral) and the location. My program is challenging, eye opening, and really gives me control over my education, not just in terms of organizing class schedules, but in terms of determining the focus of my classes. Student run discussion makes a world of difference in the level of interaction in an education. Location? 20 minutes from Berkeley, 40 minutes from San Francisco, and tucked into the hills of Northern California, where the 420 acre, largely undeveloped, spanish mission style campus is picturesque every day.

    Read all  8 answers
  13. What's the most frustrating thing about your school?

    The food could be better. A new kitchen is in the midst of being built; hopefully, with it will come new and improved meals.

    Read all  8 answers

Student Body

Students

60%

female

40%

male

2,802

Total Undergrad Enrollment

1,106

Total Grad Students

13%

Out-Of-State

84%

In-State

3%

International

Organizations

40

Student Organizations

N/A

Fraternities

N/A

Sororities

Housing

Yes

On-Campus Housing

39%

of students living on campus

Student Diversity

% American Indian/Alaskan Native
N/A
% Asian/Pacific Islander
11%
% Black or African-American
4%
% Hispanic/Latino
25%
% White or Caucasian
46%

TUITION & AID

All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA. Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.

96% of students attending Saint Mary’s College of California receive some sort of financial aid. 23% were awarded federal grants. While 61% received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.

Cost Out of State

$44,360

Tuition and fees(Out of state)

$1,107

Books and Supplies

$14,880

Room and Board

60,347

Total On Campus

Actual Cost By Income Level(W/Financial Aid)

Family Income
Cost
$0 - $30K
$26,031
$30 - $48K
$25,119
$48 - $75K
$28,811
$75 - $110K
$35,830
$110K & UP
$39,191

We use student reviews and the most current publicly available data on our school pages. As such, we don't typically remove or edit college information. Sources for school statistics and data include the U.S. Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics and the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System. Portions of college data include copyrighted material, which is reproduced on this website by permission of Wintergreen Orchard House, a division of Carnegie Communications. © 2009-2016 by Wintergreen Orchard House. All rights reserved.

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