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Rank: 160

Saint Mary's College

Saint Mary's College, in South Bend, Indiana, provides its roughly 1,600 all-female students a solid liberal arts tradition combined with a range of areas for subject concentration. It is a Catholic institution, sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who founded the college in 1844. Its undergraduate degree programs include arts, business administration, fine arts, music, and science, along with over 30 majors and a student-designed major program. The college is across the street from the University of Notre Dame, and full-time students are permitted to take certain classes there. The two schools also offer a five-year engineering dual degree program; students earn a bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's in four years, and a second bachelor of science in engineering from Notre Dame after a fifth year of study. The college has recently begun to offer four graduate degrees, including a doctorate in nursing practice. Student athletes -- they're called the Belles of Saint Mary's -- participate in eight Division I sports, including basketball, cross-country, and soccer. Most students live on the bucolic, 100-acre campus, and are required to live in one of the five residence halls for at least six semesters. Nearby South Bend offers a mix of fine and performing arts and outdoor activities, including whitewater rafting on the St. Joseph River, which runs through the middle of downtown.
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
FALL 2020 PLAN: The college moved up the start of its semester to mid-August and eliminated its fall break so that courses can end before Thanksgiving. Classes are a mix of face-to-face, hybrid, and fully online. Everyone is required to wear a face mask or covering while indoors at all times.
costs
Est. Full Price 2020-2021
$58,700
% of students who get any grants
96%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$26,700
Average price for low-income students
$13,600
admissions
Acceptance rate
82%
Median SAT/ACT Score
1160/25
SAT/ACT Required for Fall 2021?
no
Enrollment
1,440
Financial Aid
% of students with need who get grants
97%
% of need met
86%
% of students who get merit* grants
27%
Average merit grant
$15,310
student success
Graduation rate
78%
Average time to a degree
4.1 years
Average student debt
$27,000
Average salary within 5 years
$48,700
% earning more than $28,000
81%
key deadlines
Early decision application
Nov 15
Regular application
rolling

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

coronavirus update

FALL 2020 PLAN: The college moved up the start of its semester to mid-August and eliminated its fall break so that courses can end before Thanksgiving. Classes are a mix of face-to-face, hybrid, and fully online. Everyone is required to wear a face mask or covering while indoors at all times.

* Share of full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants.

* Full price of attendance includes on-campus room & board fees, which may not be applicable to all colleges' reopening plans this year.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson's, PayScale.com, Money/American Institutes for Research calculations, Opportunity Insights.

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