Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Notre Dame, Indiana
81.1% Acceptance Rate
Saint Mary's College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
81.1%Acceptance Rate
3.83Avg GPA
1233Avg SAT
28Avg ACT
$65,706Annual Cost
$59,354Grad Salary
23.9%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
81.1%
Avg GPA
3.83
Avg SAT
1233
Avg ACT
28
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1100–1310
ACT Middle 50%
25–30
Need-Based Aid
23.9% receive Pell
Saint Mary's College is a private, Catholic, women's liberal arts institution in Indiana known for its commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and character formation. With a supportive environment and a focus on empowering women for success in a variety of fields, the college provides a formative and highly regarded educational experience. Its strong tradition of intellectual rigor and community makes it an elite choice for those seeking a transformative liberal arts education.
Saint Mary's College Acceptance Rate
Saint Mary's College (St. Marys College) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 81.1% 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 — 81.1% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.83 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.63 – 3.82
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 3.38
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Saint Mary's College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
The application deadline for Saint Mary's College is November 15 for Early Action applicants, with additional plans listed below. Admission decisions are typically released by December 20.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 97 days left — Early Action
Early Action
November 15
Decision by: December 20
Regular Decision
February 1
Decision by: March 15
💡 The scholarship deadline (November 15, 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 GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at St. Marys College is 3.83. That makes admissions here extremely selective. Most admitted students carry straight A's, with very little room for a B.
If your GPA sits between 3.53 and 3.83, a high SAT or ACT score is the most reliable way to compensate.
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 4.03–4.23.St. Marys College GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Highly selective; GPA is within the typical admitted range.
Recommended Strategy: Standardized Test Scores (SAT/ACT) in the top 5th percentile.
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.83 – 4.00
Competitive Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.63 – 3.82
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
3.43 – 3.62
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 3.42
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Personal essay is optional, not required; test-optional policy applies separately (self-reported scores accepted for admission/scholarship, official scores required only to enroll)
- Class of 2029 middle 50%: GPA 3.7?4.2, ACT 25?31, SAT (EBRW+M) 1030?1270
- Direct-entry Nursing Science admission available for incoming first-years with 3.6+ HS GPA and B-average bio/chem/precalc grades
- Tri-campus community (Notre Dame + Holy Cross College) allows shared classes, clubs, and consortium credit, but first-years cannot cross-register at Notre Dame
- 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
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Saint Mary's College'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 (St. Marys College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if St. Marys College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into St. Marys College Without SAT or ACT?
St. Marys College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Saint Mary's College Average SAT Score: 1233
The average SAT score of admitted students at Saint Mary's College is 1233 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1233 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1310 SAT or 30 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Saint Mary's College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1100, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at St. Marys College. 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 | 600 | 540 | 660 |
| SAT Reading | 605 | 560 | 650 |
| SAT Composite | 1233 | 1100 | 1310 |
Below 1100, you're behind most admitted students; at 1310 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 1250
Can I get into Saint Mary's College (St. Marys College) with a 1300 SAT?
A 1300 SAT puts you ahead of most of St. Marys College'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.
Saint Mary's College (St. Marys College) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at St. Marys College is 28.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 28 — Competitive
This average is solidly above the national mean without being elite-tier.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 25 | 22 | 27 |
| ACT English | 29 | 25 | 33 |
| ACT Composite | 28 | 25 | 30 |
Can I get into Saint Mary's College with a 30 ACT?
A 30 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of St. Marys College's admitted students. That's a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several that admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections: English, Math, Reading, and Science, each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section, especially Science at STEM-focused schools, stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at St. Marys College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for St. Marys College
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
St. Marys College takes a broad view of applicants. Your energy is best spent proving readiness for coursework and maximizing your financial aid package.
Don't confuse this school's essay policy with Notre Dame's
Saint Mary's personal essay is explicitly optional - unlike neighboring University of Notre Dame's required 150-word "non-negotiables" essay plus three short answers. If your writing sample is strong, submit it as a differentiator; if not, lean on rigor of coursework and (self-reported, then later verified) test scores instead, since those carry real weight even test-optional.
Aim explicitly at the direct-entry Nursing Science criteria if that's your target major
List "Nursing Science" as your #1 intended major, hold a 3.6+ cumulative HS GPA, and carry a B average in biology, chemistry, and precalculus - meeting all three gets you invited into direct-entry Nursing Science within weeks of your admission decision, no separate application needed. Miss the bar and you can still enter the traditional way at the end of sophomore year, but you'll compete for a spot rather than being guaranteed one.
Build toward the guaranteed accelerated master's pathway from year one
Saint Mary's partnership with Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business guarantees advance admission into one of four ND master's programs (nonprofit administration, finance, business management, or accountancy) for students who meet entry criteria - letting you finish a bachelor's and master's in as little as one extra year. Map your major and GPA trajectory toward this from your first semester, since it's a criteria-based guarantee, not a competitive application late in senior year.
Don't plan your first-year schedule around ND cross-registration
First-year students are excluded from the SMC/ND Co-Exchange Program except in unusual, Dean-approved circumstances - access opens up sophomore year (1 course/semester for sophomores and juniors, 2/semester for second-semester seniors). Fulfill your major and Sophia Program (Saint Mary's core curriculum) requirements entirely on the SMC campus your first year, and treat ND cross-registration as a later-year bonus, not a freshman-year plan.
Expert Insight:
Because Saint Mary's shares a campus and deep partnership with Notre Dame, applicants and even counselors sometimes assume the schools' admission requirements (or the intensity of ND's short-answer supplement) apply equally to both - they don't. Submitting Notre Dame-style essay responses to Saint Mary's, or expecting freshman-year ND class access, are both avoidable missteps that come from conflating two legally and academically separate institutions.
St. Marys College Profile
Full Name
Saint Mary's College (St. Marys College)
City
Notre Dame
State
Indiana
ZIP Code
46556
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a St. Marys College Degree Worth It?
At $65,706/year against a $59,354 median graduate salary, St. Marys College is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $72,900, with a graduate unemployment rate of 2.76%.
How much does a degree from St. Marys College Cost?
The sticker price is $65,706/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
23.9% of students receive a Pell Grant and 59.2% take federal loans at St. Marys College. File your FAFSA early and list St. Marys College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a St. Marys College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $59,354. That's about 46% 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. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, 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 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| John Brown University | Siloam Springs, AR | 1222 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Saint Mary's College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| California Lutheran University | Thousand Oaks, CA | 1224 | 26 |
| University of Redlands | Redlands, CA | 1231 | 28 |
| University of South Florida | Tampa, FL | 1235 | 27 |
| Berry College | Mount Berry, GA | 1223 | 26 |
| Oglethorpe University | Atlanta, GA | 1230 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Saint Mary's College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, CA | 1303 | 27 |
| Point Loma Nazarene University | San Diego, CA | 1278 | 26 |
| University of San Francisco | San Francisco, CA | 1313 | 29 |
| Thomas Aquinas College | Santa Paula, CA | 1277 | 29 |
Degree Programs at St. Marys College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About St. Marys College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Saint Mary's College run about $59,354 a year.
At about $65,706 a year, Saint Mary's College's cost is on the higher end; look closely at aid options.
Saint Mary's College's Pell Grant rate of 23.9% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 81.1%, Saint Mary's College's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at Saint Mary's College average a 3.83 GPA.
Saint Mary's College doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.53 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 3.43, Saint Mary's College 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 — aim above 1233, ideally within the 1100–1310 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Saint Mary's College is November 15 for Early Action applicants. Admission decisions are released by December 20.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is November 15, 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.