Saint Mary's College, in Notre Dame, Indiana, provides its roughly 1,600 all-female students with a solid liberal arts tradition. It is a Catholic institution, sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who founded the college in 1844. The average class size is 16, and the student-faculty ratio is 9:1, giving undergrads a chance to build one-on-one relationships with professors. Even though it's a small college, students can tap into the resources of a big neighbor. Saint Mary's is across the street from the University of Notre Dame, and full-time students are permitted to take certain classes there, plus take advantage of all the student clubs and organizations. 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. Student athletes – they’re called the Belles of Saint Mary's – participate in eight Division III sports, including basketball, cross-country and soccer. Students are required to live in one of five residence halls on the bucolic, 100-acre campus 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.
Costs
- Est. full price 2022-2023
- $63,800
- % of students who get any grants
- 98%
- Est. price for students who receive aid
- $28,600
- Average price for low-income students
- $12,060
Admissions
- Acceptance rate
- 81%
- Median SAT/ACT score
- 1160/26
- SAT/ACT required?
- No
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 1,430
Financial Aid
- % of students with need who get grants
- 100%
- % of need met
- 87%
- % of students who get merit grants
- 11%
- Average merit grant
- $21,820
Student Success
- Graduation rate
- 77%
- Average time to a degree
- 4 years
- Median student debt
- $27,000
- Early career earnings
- $56,660
- % earning more than a high school grad
- 78%