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Moraga , CA
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, Catholic liberal arts institution located in Moraga, California. This college has a rich history and was founded in 1863, making it one of the oldest colleges in the state. With an emphasis on academic excellence, social justice, and human dignity, Saint Mary's College aims to provide its students with a transformative education that cultivates intellectual curiosity, critical thinking skills, and ethical responsibility.
Saint Mary's College offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs in areas such as liberal arts, business, education, sciences, and social sciences. The college is known for its rigorous academic curriculum and its commitment to personalized education. Small class sizes allow for individual attention from experienced faculty members who are dedicated to helping students succeed both inside and outside the classroom. Additionally, Saint Mary's offers numerous study abroad opportunities, internships, and community service programs, providing students with hands-on experiences that complement their academic learning.
Beyond academics, Saint Mary's College provides a vibrant campus life that fosters personal growth and development. With over 60 student clubs and organizations, students can explore their interests, engage in community service, and build lasting friendships. The college's picturesque location in the Bay Area offers easy access to cultural, recreational, and professional opportunities, enhancing the overall college experience. Saint Mary's College of California is committed to preparing its students to become responsible global citizens who are well-equipped to make a positive impact in their chosen fields and communities.
Located in Moraga, CA and set in a suburban environment, Saint Mary's College of California is a private university. This school uses a 4-1-4 calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 88%. The freshman retention rate at Saint Mary's College of California is 85.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 69%.
For freshmen, the application deadline for this school is January 15. The transfer application deadline is July 1.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most essential things about Saint Mary's College of California.
Quick Facts
1,955
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$59,251
Tuition
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
69%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the university's criteria for admission. Learn some vital facts about admission policy and requirements at Saint Mary's College of California.
According to the newest information reported, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 3,816 in 2025. Saint Mary's College of California has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is moderately difficult to get into.
Test Scores
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.58. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Deadlines
Be sure to apply to this school by January 15. If you are applying for a transfer, note that the application deadline is July 1.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is the percentage of college or university freshmen who return for their sophomore year. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Saint Mary's College of California was 85.4%, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. This academic institution has the six-year graduation rate of 69%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
Figuring out which school is the right fit for you is not a task you should take lightly. Having a better insight into a school's student body helps you learn more about its culture and life.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 2,736 students.
The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 1,955, 46 of which were international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 116.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 985 male and 1,272 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 200 full-time graduate male and 293 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
In order to promote a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2025, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of Asian students was 161, while the number of African American students was 95. 647 students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 168 identified with more than one race. The school also had 41 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, and 5 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 58 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Saint Mary's College of California is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
In 2025, tuition amounted to $59,251 for all full-time domestic students. Saint Mary's College of California is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Full-time students in 2025 needed to pay additional fees in the amount of $500.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the estimated cost of books and supplies for a college or university. The cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is estimated at about $1,062.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do colleges and universities typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Saint Mary's College of California was $18,198 in 2025. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $14,733.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 59,251 |
| Room and Board | $ 18,198 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,062 |
| Total Expense | $ 78,511 |
Financial Aid
Getting some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be crucial for finishing your studies. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Saint Mary's College of California, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 339 freshmen received some sort of financial help. Students of this school received an average of $44,982 in financial help.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
1,202 students gained some form of need-based financial aid. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated to be 1,204. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution came to $3,226,971, and state $3,747,619. The students of Saint Mary's College of California received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $39,359,327, and external in the amount of $249,135.
$26,411
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
171 students, including freshmen, received institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. 61 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $19,477,710. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $35,473 USD.
Open Applications
Find open programs by choosing your preferred academic interest from the list below, and select your desired term start. Get started with your application process and find more information using the Apply button.
The Common Application for Transfer (Common App for transfer)
Majors
Faculty
10:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
In 2025, this ratio at Saint Mary's College of California was 10:1. That means that there were 10 times more students than teachers at this school. This school has recently reported to have 334 faculty members. Out of that number, there were 136 male and 198 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school is telling of the importance gender equality has at Saint Mary's College of California.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Find out some details about students' life at Saint Mary's College of California.
Its campus spans 420 acres.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 63 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. 33 percent of male and 67 of female students are active in different organizations at Saint Mary's College of California. The student organization that is most favored by students is Asian Pacific American Student Association, followed by Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and Fishing Club. Other popular student organizations at this school are Black Student Union and Gael Sisterhood.
For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club. You have a talent for media and communication? Saint Mary's College of California publishes its own newspaper and has its own radio station.
Student Services
Saint Mary's College of California provides a number of services vital for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
24/7 emergency phone and alarm devices are available. The school's dormitory entrances are operated electronically. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. Theer is a nighttime transportation/escort service.
There is a medical clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Women's Center are available to the students of Saint Mary's College of California.
All in all, campus life at Saint Mary's College of California is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Saint Mary's College of California.
Career Counselling
At Saint Mary's College of California, there is both group career counseling for full-time students and individual career counseling for full-time students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The school has campus employer recruitment for full-time students only. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be excellent for your future career.
Job Placement
Acquiring information about the potential income after graduation can help you decide if a specific school is the right one for your career aspirations.
Within six months of graduation, this school's students can expect an average base annual starting salary of 50,000 USD.
$50,000
Average Starting Salary After 6 Months of Graduation
FAQ
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Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA.
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The overall full-time tuition per academic year for Saint Mary's College of California is 59,251 USD, based on the most recent data.
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This school has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Saint Mary's College of California is 88%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Saint Mary's College of California is 85.4%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.