Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
Moraga, California
88.6% Acceptance Rate
Saint Mary's College of California — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
88.6%Acceptance Rate
3.6Avg GPA
1162Avg SAT
$73,655Annual Cost
$78,812Grad Salary
23.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
88.6%
Avg GPA
3.6
Avg SAT
1162
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1122–1192
Need-Based Aid
23.8% receive Pell
Saint Mary's College of California is a private, Lasallian liberal arts institution known for its "Collegiate Seminar" model and emphasis on the development of the whole person. Admissions are holistic, seeking intellectually curious students who are ready to participate in rigorous, interdisciplinary discussions. The college values applicants who demonstrate a passion for social justice, ethical inquiry, and community engagement throughout their high school career.
Successful applicants often showcase strong writing and analytical skills, as evidenced by their application essays and school coursework. The college seeks students who are looking for a community that values deep thinking and personal growth. Highlighting extracurriculars that reflect leadership and ethical reflection; such as service learning, debate, or cultural organization involvement is highly recommended to demonstrate a fit for the unique Saint Mary's educational experience.
Saint Mary's College of California Acceptance Rate
Saint Mary's College of California (St Marys College of California) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 88.6% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 88.6% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.15
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Saint Mary's College of California Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Saint Mary's College of California is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 1.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 79 days left — Early Decision I
Early Decision I
November 1
Decision by: December 1
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: December 20
Early Decision II
January 15
Decision by: February 15
Regular Decision
January 15
Decision by: March 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
St Marys College of California GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at St Marys College of California is 3.6. That makes admissions here highly selective. Most admitted students carry mostly A's with the occasional B.
Between 3.30 and 3.6? A strong standardized test score is worth prioritizing.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.80–4.00.St Marys College of California GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Selective; solid academic performance is expected.
Recommended Strategy: Focus on a Strong 'Spike' in extracurriculars or research.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.60 – 4.00
Target/Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.40 – 3.59
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.20 – 3.39
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.19
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Test-optional (SAT Essay/ACT Writing not considered even if submitted); applies via the Common Application.
- SMC picks a new Common App supplemental essay prompt every year, often inspired by current students - verify the current-cycle prompt rather than reusing a prior year's.
- Every student takes three required Collegiate Seminar courses (Great Books, discussion-based) regardless of major, plus a month-long January Term intensive on a single topic.
- Merit scholarships (roughly $13,000?$29,000/year in recent cycles) are automatically considered for all first-year applicants from the Common App alone - no separate scholarship essay required.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at St Marys College of California
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Saint Mary's College of California's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Saint Mary's College of California (St Marys College of California) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if St Marys College of California is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into St Marys College of California Without SAT or ACT?
St Marys College of California neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average. Otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
Saint Mary's College of California Average SAT Score: 1162
The average SAT score of admitted students at Saint Mary's College of California is 1162 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1162 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national mean SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1192 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Saint Mary's College of California allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1122, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at St Marys College of California. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1162 | 1122 | 1192 |
Below 1122, you're behind most admitted students; at 1192 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1150
Can I get into Saint Mary's College of California (St Marys College of California) with a 1200 SAT?
A 1200 SAT puts you ahead of most of St Marys College of California's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for St Marys College of California
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
St Marys College of California takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Write to the Current-Year, Student-Sourced Prompt
SMC replaces its Common App supplemental essay prompt every year, often drawing inspiration from current students. Check the live prompt for the current cycle before drafting - reusing a strategy built around a prior year's prompt, or a generic "why this college" answer, will miss what the admissions committee is actually asking that year.
Build the Narrative Around Collegiate Seminar Readiness
Every student, regardless of major, takes three required Collegiate Seminar courses built entirely around discussion-based engagement with the Great Books. Use the essay or short answers to demonstrate genuine comfort with discussion-driven, text-based learning rather than lecture-hall preference - this core-curriculum structure is mandatory and non-negotiable for every admit.
Name a Specific January Term Interest
This month-long, single-topic intensive - often used for study abroad, service projects, or an unconventional personal-growth experience - is a structural rarity worth naming specifically in the application. It signals genuine fit with SMC's academic calendar rather than a generic liberal-arts interest.
Don't Build a Separate Scholarship Essay Strategy
Merit scholarships (roughly $13,000?$29,000/year in recent cycles) are automatically considered for all first-year applicants directly from the Common App, with no additional forms or essays. Focus all writing effort on the one required Common App plus SMC supplemental essay rather than assuming a separate scholarship application exists.
Expert Insight:
At least four other "Saint Mary's" institutions exist nationally (Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Indiana; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota; Saint Mary's College of Maryland; Saint Mary's University, San Antonio). Double-check that every document, portal login, and scholarship reference specifically points to Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga - cross-filing between these schools is a common, documented error.
St Marys College of California Profile
Full Name
Saint Mary's College of California (St Marys College of California)
City
Moraga
State
California
ZIP Code
94575
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Western Association of Schools and Colleges Senior Colleges and University Commission (WASCSR)
Is a St Marys College of California Degree Worth It?
Whether St Marys College of California is worth it depends less on its reputation and more on your program choice, financial aid package, and career goals. Here's the data to weigh it against.
The average household income among admitted students is $84,200, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.36%.
How much does a degree from St Marys College of California Cost?
The sticker price is $73,655/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
23.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 66.1% take federal loans at St Marys College of California. File your FAFSA early and list St Marys College of California as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a St Marys College of California Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $78,812. That's about 94% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Mary's College of California. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntingdon College | Montgomery, AL | 1148 | 23 |
| University of South Alabama | Mobile, AL | 1119 | 23 |
| Tuskegee University | Tuskegee, AL | 1121 | 22 |
| Arkansas State University | Jonesboro, AR | 1119 | 22 |
| University of Central Arkansas | Conway, AR | 1117 | 22 |
| University of La Verne | La Verne, CA | 1116 | 22 |
| University of Colorado Denver/Anschutz Medical Campus | Denver, CO | 1119 | 24 |
| University of Colorado Colorado Springs | Colorado Springs, CO | 1140 | 25 |
| Western Colorado University | Gunnison, CO | 1130 | 25 |
| Lynn University | Boca Raton, FL | 1136 | 25 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Saint Mary's College of California. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azusa Pacific University | Azusa, CA | 1155 | 22 |
| Florida International University | Miami, FL | 1154 | 23 |
| Toccoa Falls College | Toccoa Falls, GA | 1155 | 23 |
| Chaminade University of Honolulu | Honolulu, HI | 1155 | NA |
| University of Hawaii at Manoa | Honolulu, HI | 1157 | 24 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Mary's College of California. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Mobile | Mobile, AL | 1220 | 24 |
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
Degree Programs at St Marys College of California
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About St Marys College of California Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Saint Mary's College of California run about $78,812 a year.
At about $73,655 a year, Saint Mary's College of California's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Saint Mary's College of California's Pell Grant rate of 23.8% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 88.6%, Saint Mary's College of California's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Saint Mary's College of California average a 3.6 GPA.
Saint Mary's College of California doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.3 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.2, Saint Mary's College of California becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at Saint Mary's College of California — aim above 1162, ideally within the 1122–1192 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Saint Mary's College of California is November 1 for Early Decision I applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 1.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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