Saint Mary's College of California
About
Saint Mary's College of California is a private Catholic college in Moraga, California, United States. Established in 1863, it is administered by the De La Salle Brothers. The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs with a total student count at under 4,000 as of 2018.
Admissions & acceptance rate
First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.
Graduation rate & outcomes
Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.
Pell equity
Non-Pell students graduate at a 3.1-point higher rate than Pell recipients.
Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.
Program outcomes
Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.
Of 78 Title IV programs, 15 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 0 fail. 63 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.
Pass / fail distribution
- Passing15 · 19.2%
- No Data63 · 80.8%
- Failing0 · 0.0%
Severity spectrum
Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.
Earnings premium gap
Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.
Debt vs earnings
Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.
Accreditation status & history
Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.
WASC Senior College and University Commission
Programmatic accreditations · 3
Action history · 7
- Jun 2025Grant Substantive Change: ProgramWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Feb 2024Heightened Monitoring or Focused ReviewWASC Senior College and University Commission
- May 2021Grant Substantive Change: DegreeWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Mar 2021Grant Substantive Change: ProgramWASC Senior College and University Commission
- Sep 2019Institution ClosedMontessori Accreditation Council for Teacher Education · Montessori Education (MACTE) - Montessori teacher education programs and institutions
Tuition & cost
What families actually pay, broken down by family income.
Net price by family income
Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.
Federal aid volume & trends
Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.
In AY 2024–25, 640 students received $3.8M in Pell grants, alongside $23.3M in federal Direct Loans.
Pell recipients · 5-year trend
Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25
Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.
Student loan default rate
The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.
Of 981 borrowers who entered repayment, 6 (0.6%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.
Default rate vs national, by cohort
* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.
Academic programs at SMCC
Top program areas ranked by completions.
Top program families by completions
Enrollment trends & demographics
Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.
Gender split
Race / ethnicity composition
Athletics & Title IX gender equity
How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.
Men vs women · spending splits
Sport-by-sport · 12
Campus safety & crime statistics
Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.
3-year trend
Criminal offenses by type
By location
- On campus7
Includes 4 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).
VAWA offenses
Hate crimes by bias
- Ethnicity3
Arrests vs disciplinary referrals
Residence-hall fires
- De La Salle1 fireAn unknown person used a flame or torch to set fire to paper towels and placed them in a trash canDamage $100-$999
- Mitty1 fireAn unknown person used a flame or torch to scorch the exit signDamage $100-$999
Student-faculty ratio
Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.
SMCC vs Peer comparison
The peer institutions SMCC selected for federal comparison reporting.
A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.
| Carnegie | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SubjectSaint Mary's College of California | 70% | 86.5% | 2,734 | $30,378 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| 86% | 81.7% | 7,470 | $35,119 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 79% | 45.1% | 10,179 | $48,381 | R2 Research | |
| 88% | 48.0% | 9,728 | $50,062 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 76% | 76.9% | 7,189 | $34,662 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 80% | 89.2% | 3,285 | $28,210 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs | |
| 67% | 82.7% | 3,087 | $30,031 | Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | |
| 84% | 52.4% | 9,714 | $30,365 | R2 Research | |
| 70% | 61.7% | 8,913 | $41,431 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| 68% | 71.3% | 6,944 | $25,447 | Doctoral/Professional | |
| Peer group median | 78% | 74.1% | 7,330 | $32,520 |
Institutions like SMCC
Explore the federal data for institutions in SMCC's comparison group.
- Doctoral/ProfessionalWashington
Gonzaga University
Grad rate86%Admit rate81.7%Enrollment7,470Net price$35,119View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
Loyola Marymount University
Grad rate79%Admit rate45.1%Enrollment10,179Net price$48,381View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
Santa Clara University
Grad rate88%Admit rate48.0%Enrollment9,728Net price$50,062View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalWashington
Seattle University
Grad rate76%Admit rate76.9%Enrollment7,189Net price$34,662View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Medium ProgramsOregon
University of Portland
Grad rate80%Admit rate89.2%Enrollment3,285Net price$28,210View data - Masters Colleges & Universities: Larger ProgramsCalifornia
University of Redlands
Grad rate67%Admit rate82.7%Enrollment3,087Net price$30,031View data - R2 ResearchCalifornia
University of San Diego
Grad rate84%Admit rate52.4%Enrollment9,714Net price$30,365View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of San Francisco
Grad rate70%Admit rate61.7%Enrollment8,913Net price$41,431View data - Doctoral/ProfessionalCalifornia
University of the Pacific
Grad rate68%Admit rate71.3%Enrollment6,944Net price$25,447View data
SMCC Institutional Research office
The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.
The Institutional Research office at Saint Mary's College of California is dedicated to fostering a culture of data-driven excellence and informed, equity minded, decision-making. Our mission is to empower our community with accurate, timely, and insightful information that supports strategic planning, enhances student success, and promotes institutional effectiveness.
Visit IR office page- Milena Angelova, Ph.D., Ed.D., M.sc.Director of Institutional Research
Common Data Set
SMCC's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.
Selectivity & Admissions
Admissions funnel
C14,289 applied → 3,803 admitted (88.7%) → 503 enrolled.
Selectivity
C1Accessible — 88.7% acceptance rate.
Admit rate by gender
C1Admit rates are similar across genders (Men 88.0%, Women 88.9%).
What matters in admission
C7Relative importance of each admission factor.
Affordability & Value
Cost of attendance
GTotal sticker cost of attendance is $76,341 (2024-2025).
Sticker vs. net price
G+HSticker $76,341 → about $57,953 net for aided students after the average need-based grant ($18,388); 85% of demonstrated need is met.
Where grant aid comes from
H166% of need-based grant dollars come from the institution itself.
Graduate debt
H4/H558% of graduates borrowed; those who did owed $35,593 on average.
Academic Experience
Class-size distribution
I359% of classes have under 20 students; 0% have 50+.
Faculty profile
IKey faculty indicators.
Degrees by discipline
JSTEM-dominant: ~12% of bachelor's degrees are in computing, engineering, math & sciences.
Transfer Path
Transfer admissions
D1459 transfer applicants → 361 admitted (78.6%) → 133 enrolled — more selective than first-year admission.
Reports & documents (4)
Dashboards, factbooks, data dictionaries, and other reference material published by the IR office.
- Data definitionData Governance | Saint Mary's CollegeThe Data Governance page at Saint Mary's College of California outlines the institution's approach to managing and utilizing data as a strategic asset. The Data Governance Committee collaborates with IEE and AIS to ensure data integrity, security, and effective usage across the institution's various operational phases, including collection, pathways, integration, analysis, and distribution. The page also specifies policies related to instructional programs, data definitions, access privileges, and the roles of various teams and offices in maintaining the institution's data governance framework.stmarys-ca.edu
- Data dictionaryData Governance | Saint Mary's College2026The Data Governance page of Saint Mary's College of California details the institution's planned strategies for managing data through policies, practices and operations, aiming to support evidence-based decision making. The college-wide data strategies facilitate a comprehensive system for data management, including collection, pathways, integration, analysis, and distribution of data. The Data Governance Committee is responsible for transforming data into a strategic asset by establishing data definitions, maintaining data security, and fostering continuous improvement. This page includes information about their organizational structure, roles of committee members, data access regulations, and policies governing data integrity and security. Additionally, it introduces the data dictionary process and various data reports and dashboards within the institutional framework.stmarys-ca.edu
- DFR reportIPEDS Data Feedback Report 20242024nces.ed.gov
- Strategic plan2020-2028 Strategic Plan2020The 2020-2028 Strategic Plan of Saint Mary's College of California outlines the strategic direction of the institution over an eight-year period. Authored by the College, the plan was published in 2020 and is accessible via their Digital Commons. It serves as a guiding document for decision-making and institutional development through 2028.digitalcommons.stmarys-ca.edu
Notable alumni of SMCC (7)
A curated list of alumni recognized for notable achievements across industries.
- Joseph AliotoPolitics
- Ryan CooglerFilm
- María Elena DurazoPolitics
- Robert HassLiterature
- Brian Doyle-MurrayEntertainment
- Don PerataPolitics
- John F. HenningDiplomacy
Frequently asked questions about Saint Mary's College of California
Quick answers to the questions most often asked about SMCC.
What is the acceptance rate at Saint Mary's College of California?
What is the graduation rate at Saint Mary's College of California?
How many students attend Saint Mary's College of California?
What is the average net price at Saint Mary's College of California?
What is the yield rate at Saint Mary's College of California?
Where is Saint Mary's College of California located?
Who runs Institutional Research at Saint Mary's College of California?
About the data on this page
Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.
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