Saint Mary's College
#4 Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana- Graduation Rate
- 73% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $59,354 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $25,292 D
- 48% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 76% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.2× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.2 over 20 years. Ranked #4 in Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana.
Every $1 spent returns $13.2 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,235,880.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Earnings 46% above the national college median.
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Every $1 invested returns $13.2 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Saint Mary's College Matters
Saint Mary's College is a private liberal arts college in Notre Dame, IN and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 1,458
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Social Sciences
Why students choose Saint Mary's College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 76% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1130–1325. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $25,292 a year after grants and scholarships — 48% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $59,354 ten years after enrolling — 46% above the typical college, against $27,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 94% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.69 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Seventy-six percent of students at Saint Mary's College graduate within six years. This strong graduation rate reflects the supportive community and resources available to students. With an enrollment of 1,458, the college fosters a close-knit environment that many find appealing.
Ten years after graduation, alumni earn a median salary of $59,354. While specific mobility metrics are not available, the college's focus on fields like health professions, business, and education suggests a solid foundation for career advancement. The data indicates that graduates can expect a return on their investment in education.
The average net price for attending Saint Mary's College is $25,292, with median student debt at $27,000. This financial picture is crucial for prospective students. Those who thrive here are often dedicated and engaged, seeking a personal education experience in a supportive setting.
Rankings
- #4 Best Nursing Colleges in Indiana
- #9 Best Biology Colleges in Indiana
- #11 Best Education Colleges in Indiana
- #11 Best Communications Colleges in Indiana
- #12 Best Psychology Colleges in Indiana
- #15 Best Colleges in Indiana
- #16 Best Business Colleges in Indiana
- #18 Best Bachelor's Programs in Indiana
Can I Get In?
How selective Saint Mary's College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Mary's College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Notre Dame, Indiana, Saint Mary's College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,246. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 76%
- Retention Rate
- 88%
- SAT Average
- 1246
- ACT Midpoint
- 26
- SAT Range
- 1130–1325
- ACT Range
- 26–30
- Full-Time Faculty
- 69%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $7,935
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 9:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.42
- First-Gen Students
- 20%
- Applicants
- 2,260
- Admitted
- 1,896
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saint Mary's College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Saint Mary's College is $53,230, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,292. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,760 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $53,230
- Out-of-State
- $53,230
- Avg Net Price
- $25,292
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 24%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 56%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $16,760
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $18,152
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $21,014
- Family Income $110K+
- $30,443
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Saint Mary's College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Saint Mary's College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Saint Mary's College earn a median of $59,354, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $53,470
- 8 Years
- $62,295
- 10 Years
- $59,354
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.45x
- Earning > $25K
- 82%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (295)
- 78%
- 100% (295)
- 78%
- 100% (295)
- 78%
- 100% (295)
- 78%
How Saint Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Saint Mary's College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Saint Mary's College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $25,292/year ($101,168 total). Graduates earn $59,354 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,337,048 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,235,880 (13.2× your investment). The median debt is $27,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 73% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $101,168
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,337,048
- Net Return
- $1,235,880
- ROI Multiple
- 13.2×
- Cost Per Year
- $25,292
- Median Debt
- $27,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 73%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Saint Mary's College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Saint Mary's College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.62%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 1.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 33.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $130,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.62%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 33.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 1.9%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $177,440
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Saint Mary's College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 20% $70,815 early-career
- Business & Marketing 11% $76,066 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 11% $29,017 early-career
- Social Sciences 8% $54,318 early-career
- Psychology 8% $31,958 early-career
- Education 7% $48,403 early-career
- Mathematics & Statistics 6%
- Communications 5% $49,122 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Saint Mary's College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- B-AI/ML Engineer$156,000 · 23% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Computer Vision Engineer$145,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CPhysicist$142,850 · 5% growthAdaptable 66
- CAstronomer$142,850 · 4% growthAdaptable 66
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Saint Mary's College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Notre Dame, Indiana, Saint Mary's College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 76%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,246. The graduation rate is roughly 73%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Saint Mary's College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Saint Mary's College is $53,230, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $25,292. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,760 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $27,000 in federal student loans.
Is Saint Mary's College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Saint Mary's College earn a median of $59,354, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Saint Mary's College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Saint Mary's College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.62%, in line with strong performers nationally. Access is narrower: only about 1.9% of students come from the bottom income quintile, typical of more selective, higher-income institutions. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 33.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $130,600, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Saint Mary's College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Saint Mary's College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Saint Mary's College.
- Luther CollegeDecorah, IA · Close peer73% grad $59,850 earn 72% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Walsh UniversityNorth Canton, OH · Close peer60% grad $59,764 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Randolph-Macon CollegeAshland, VA · Close peer72% grad $58,448 earn 87% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Saint Norbert CollegeDe Pere, WI · Close peer72% grad $58,363 earn 86% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Saint Ambrose UniversityDavenport, IA · Close peer62% grad $59,531 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Wartburg CollegeWaverly, IA · Close peer66% grad $56,201 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Saint Mary's College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Saint Mary's College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.69, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 8% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note