Saint Mary's College of California: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
Moraga, California · Private nonprofit · Open access · CDS 2024-2025
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Saint Mary's College of California is a private nonprofit university in Moraga, California that admits about 89% of applicants, making it a open access school. The average family pays about $30,378 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Business/Commerce, General, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Biology, General, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. About 69% of students graduate within six years. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 3.6 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Saint Mary's College of California is a private institution located in Moraga, California. For the most recent reporting cycle, Saint Mary's College of California admits the majority of qualified applicants, with an overall admission rate of 89%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $30,378 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Saint Mary's College of California?
59% of enrolled students at Saint Mary's College of California had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.58, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What does Saint Mary's College of California weight in admissions?
Saint Mary's College of California reports these factor weights in its Common Data Set (2024-2025). What the weights mean
- • Rigor of secondary school record
- • Academic GPA
- • First generation status
SAT and ACT scores Saint Mary's College of California typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year — check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
- • Test-optional: Standardized test scores are not required, but may be submitted and considered.
- • Policy detail: Considered if submitted
How much does Saint Mary's College of California actually cost?
Published tuition is $57,803 for in-state students and $57,803 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $17,600 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $30,378 per year — the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 27% of students receive Pell Grants.
| In-state tuition | $59,251 |
| Room and board | $18,198 |
| Average net price (after aid) | $30,378 |
| Application fee | $60 (waivers available) |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Saint Mary's College of California
| Regular deadline | January 15 |
| Notification date | December 1 |
| Reply deadline | May 1 |
| Rolling admissions | Yes |
| Offers Early Action | Yes |
| EA deadline | November 1 |
Will my child graduate from Saint Mary's College of California?
These predict outcomes at Saint Mary's College of California better than its acceptance rate does. How to read retention and graduation rates
Most popular majors at Saint Mary's College of California
The most popular undergraduate programs at Saint Mary's College of California, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Business/Commerce, General, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Biology, General. Across all programs, Saint Mary's College of California confers roughly 426 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Business/Commerce, General program report a median income of about $95,040 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General | 148 | $95,040 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 64 | $63,470 |
| Biology, General | 44 | $65,439 |
| Psychology, General | 40 | $50,583 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 37 | $63,474 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 36 | $69,855 |
| Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other | 30 | $73,418 |
| English Language and Literature, General | 27 | $57,008 |
Is Saint Mary's College of California safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Saint Mary's College of California disclosed 7 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 3.6 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 0 violent offenses and 3 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
What is campus life like at Saint Mary's College of California?
About 67% of undergraduates at Saint Mary's College of California live in campus housing, making it a largely residential campus. In Greek life, 0% of men join a fraternity and 0% of women join a sorority. Residential rate and Greek participation shape day-to-day social life and are worth weighing alongside academics and cost.
Other colleges in California parents ask about
- California State University-Chico93% acceptance
- Sonoma State University93% acceptance
- California State University-East Bay97% acceptance
- California State University-San Bernardino94% acceptance
- California State University-Dominguez Hills93% acceptance
- California State University-Stanislaus98% acceptance
- California State University-Bakersfield94% acceptance
- California State University-Monterey Bay97% acceptance
Next steps for Saint Mary's College of California
Common questions parents ask about Saint Mary's College of California
What GPA do I need for Saint Mary's College of California?
59% of enrolled students at Saint Mary's College of California had a high school GPA of 3.50 or above, and the average was 3.58, according to its 2024-2025 Common Data Set.
What SAT or ACT score does Saint Mary's College of California typically admit?
Saint Mary's College of California does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does Saint Mary's College of California actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Saint Mary's College of California after grants and scholarships is $30,378 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $57,803. Budget against the net figure.
Is Saint Mary's College of California realistic for my child?
Saint Mary's College of California admits 89% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $30,378 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Mary's College of California?
Saint Mary's College of California accepts about 89% of applicants out of roughly 4,309 who apply each year. It admits the majority of qualified applicants.
Is Saint Mary's College of California test-optional?
Yes. Saint Mary's College of California is test-optional, so SAT and ACT scores are not required, but strong scores can still be submitted and will be considered.
What is the graduation rate at Saint Mary's College of California?
About 69% of students at Saint Mary's College of California graduate within six years. 85% of freshmen return for sophomore year. Graduation rate predicts real outcomes better than acceptance rate.
What does Saint Mary's College of California look for in applicants?
Saint Mary's College of California rates course rigor and GPA as "very important" in its Common Data Set. These are the factors the admissions committee weighs most heavily when reviewing an application.
Is Saint Mary's College of California a public or private school, and where is it located?
Saint Mary's College of California is a private nonprofit institution located in Moraga, California.
What are the most popular majors at Saint Mary's College of California?
The largest undergraduate majors at Saint Mary's College of California by annual graduates are Business/Commerce, General, Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities and Biology, General. The school awards about 426 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Saint Mary's College of California safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Saint Mary's College of California reported 7 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 3.6 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
What is campus life like at Saint Mary's College of California?
At Saint Mary's College of California, 67% of undergraduates live on campus, 0% of men are in fraternities, 0% of women are in sororities, according to its most recent Common Data Set.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Saint Mary's College of California, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers