St. Mary's College of Maryland Description:
Located on an attractive 319 acre water-front campus, St. Mary's College of Maryland stands on a historic piece of land first settled in 1634. It's a fitting location for Maryland's only Public Honors College. The college boasts a 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio. Students at St. Mary's College receive the benefits of a small, liberal arts college with the lower cost of state tuition. The school's academic strengths earned it a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. Student life on the water has led to some interesting student traditions such as an annual cardboard boat race and a winter swim in the river. St. Mary's many strengths earned it a place on my list of top public liberal arts colleges and top Maryland colleges.
Admissions Data (2012):
- Percent of Applicants Admitted: 61%
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for St. Mary's
- What Are Your Chances? (from Cappex.com)
- Test Scores -- 25th / 75th Percentile
- SAT Critical Reading: 560 / 680
- SAT Math: 540 / 650
- SAT Writing: 550 / 670
- ACT Composite: 25 / 29
- ACT English: 24 / 30
- ACT Math: 24 / 29
Enrollment (2011):
- Total Enrollment: 1,992 (1,962 undergraduates)
- Gender Breakdown: 41% Male / 59% Female
- 97% Full-time
Costs (2012 - 13):
- Tuition and Fees: $14,773 (in-state); $27,573 (out-of-state)
- Books: $1,000 (why so much?)
- Room and Board: $11,305
- Other Expenses: $2,500
- Total Cost: $29,578 (in-state); $42,378 (out-of-state)
St. Mary's College Financial Aid (2010 - 11):
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Aid: 80%
- St. Mary's College Scholarships (Cappex.com)
- Percentage of New Students Receiving Types of Aid
- Grants: 70%
- Loans: 45%
- Average Amount of Aid
- Grants: $6,804
- Loans: $5,333
Most Popular Majors:
Biology, Economics, English, History, Political Science, Psychology
Transfer, Graduation and Retention Rates:
- First Year Student Retention (full-time students): 87%
- Transfer Out Rate: 10%
- 4-Year Graduation Rate: 70%
- 6-Year Graduation Rate: 79%
Data Source:
National Center for Educational Statistics
St. Mary's College of Maryland Mission Statement:
mission statement from http://www.smcm.edu/about/ourphilosophy.html
"Founded on the site of Maryland’s first capital, the College stands as a living legacy to the ideals of freedom and inclusiveness. Our beautiful residential campus on the banks of the St. Mary’s River inspires our work, our play, and our commitment to the environment."


