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Overall Score: 74.23

Saint Mary's College

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%

Notes: Students who get merit grants are full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants. Graduation rate measures degree completion within six years for both transfer students and first-time students. Early career earnings are the median earnings for both graduates and non-completers, 10 years after they first enrolled.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, Money/Witlytic calculations.

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