Saint Mary’s College of California Scholarships (2026–2027)
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Last Updated on January 22, 2026- Tuition, housing, and what families actually pay on average
- Automatic merit ranges and who typically qualifies
- Competitive and hidden-gem scholarships worth a look
- Honors perks and how to stack awards the smart way
📊 Admissions Snapshot
- Acceptance Rate: ~88%
- Middle 50% ACT: 21–28
- Middle 50% SAT: 1080–1260
- Average GPA (HS): 3.7
Source: College Board BigFuture (accessed 2026). Middle 50% = the range where half of admitted students fall.
Comparing multiple schools? Try the Scholarship Tool to search by GPA, test scores, and state →
Saint Mary’s at a Glance
🧭 Quick Strategy Paths (Pick the one that fits your student)
| If your student is… | Focus on… | Best next move |
|---|---|---|
| High academic profile (top applicant pool) | Top merit tiers + departmental awards (watch the ~$50k cap) | Apply by Nov 1 (priority) and track departmental deadlines early |
| Solid A-/B+ student with moderate need | Mid merit tiers + FAFSA timing + targeted departmental “gems” | Use the Net Price Calculator early and compare peers |
| Debate/forensics or communication-focused | Macken Forensics + Journalism/Communication scholarship pathways | Reach out to the program early and confirm participation expectations |
| Considering transfer (CA community college) | Transfer merit + CC Partnership + PTK/AGS add-ons | Treat this as a “Plan B” affordability path if freshman net price is too high |
CRP note: These are strategy paths, not promises — always confirm deadlines and award rules using the Official Links section.
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/saint-marys-college-of-california/admissions
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/first-year-students
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/applying-undergraduate-financial-aid-fafsa
https://catalog.stmarys-ca.edu/content.php?catoid=21&navoid=1482
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/departmental-scholarships
💰 Cost of Attendance at Saint Mary’s College of California (2026–2027)
These are the direct, billed costs for a full-time undergraduate student living on campus. Because Saint Mary’s is a private college, tuition is the same for in-state and out-of-state students. Additional expenses like transportation, books, and personal costs are not billed by the university but still factor into aid eligibility.
| Category | In-State | Out-of-State |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition & Mandatory Fees | $59,251 | $59,251 |
| Housing & Meals (Room & Board) | $18,198 | $18,198 |
| Total (Direct/Billed) | $77,449 | $77,449 |
Why only these items? We include the costs you typically pay directly to Saint Mary’s — tuition/mandatory fees, housing, and meals. The full Cost of Attendance used for financial aid can also include:
- Books & supplies
- Transportation (commuting, travel home, etc.)
- Personal expenses (laundry, phone, basic living costs)
- Loan fees (if you borrow)
Moraga is a safe, beautiful suburb—but it’s part of a higher-cost Bay Area region. Families often find the “personal/transportation” line in the official COA feels low once students start taking shuttles, occasional rideshares, or weekend trips off campus.
A practical planning move is to budget an extra $1,500–$2,000 per year for local transportation and day-to-day expenses beyond a typical national estimate.
📉 Average Net Price (What Families Actually Pay)
The average net price is approximately $33,500 per year after grants and scholarships.
Use Saint Mary’s Net Price Calculator for a personalized estimate.
Learn how net price and the new Student Aid Index (SAI) work in our
Net Price & SAI Guide.
At many private colleges, merit tiers usually stay fixed, but institutional grants can sometimes change after initial aid packages arrive. If Saint Mary’s is on your short list, it’s reasonable to ask—politely and with documentation—whether your family’s package can be reconsidered.
- When: After you receive the full aid package (often late March–April), but before you commit.
- What to send: Competing offers from peer schools, updated grades, new awards, and any major changes in family finances.
- What to ask: “Is there any room to reconsider my student’s institutional grant given this comparable offer?”
Keep it simple: You’re not negotiating like a car purchase—you’re asking for a professional review based on new information.
- No residency pricing: Saint Mary’s is a private college, so in-state and out-of-state students pay the same tuition. There’s no non-resident surcharge to overcome.
- Merit drives the discount: Most families see cost reductions through automatic merit scholarships (roughly $26,000–$38,000 per year), awarded at admission and renewable.
- FAFSA timing matters: Filing the FAFSA early (Saint Mary’s lists an early-spring priority) improves access to institutional need-based grants that stack with merit.
- Departmental & identity-based awards: Smaller, stackable scholarships (arts, leadership, legacy, transfer pathways) can meaningfully reduce net price beyond the headline merit award.
Bottom line: At Saint Mary’s, affordability isn’t about tuition exchanges — it’s about earning strong merit, filing aid forms early, and stacking smaller awards strategically.
FAQ — Cost of Attendance at Saint Mary’s College of California
Why are in-state and out-of-state costs the same here?
Saint Mary’s is a private college, so it doesn’t use state-residency tuition tiers like public universities. That means out-of-state families aren’t hit with a separate non-resident tuition surcharge.
Is $77,449 what families actually pay?
Not usually. That number is the direct billed cost (tuition/fees + housing/meals). Many students receive merit and/or need-based aid that lowers the real cost.
A better starting point is the average net price (~$33,500), then confirm with the school’s Net Price Calculator.
Do out-of-state students qualify for the same merit scholarships?
Yes. Saint Mary’s merit awards are tied to the student’s application profile, not residency. If your student qualifies, the scholarship applies the same way whether you live in California or not.
What’s the biggest “parent move” to reduce cost here?
Treat Saint Mary’s like a merit-and-aid negotiation problem: apply by the Nov 1 priority timing when possible, submit the FAFSA by March 1 (new students), and use the Net Price Calculator to sanity-check the offer.
Do first-year students have to live on campus?
Housing policies vary by class year and space. If your student can live at home (or qualify for an exception), that can materially reduce costs — but confirm the current policy with Saint Mary’s Housing/Student Life.
Does Saint Mary’s participate in WUE, ACM, MSEP, or other tuition exchanges?
No. Those programs primarily apply to public universities with higher non-resident tuition. Saint Mary’s charges the same tuition to all students, so exchanges typically aren’t relevant here.
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/tuition-and-fees
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/net-price-calculator
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/applying-undergraduate-financial-aid-fafsa
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/saint-marys-college-of-california/tuition-and-costs
✅ Automatic Merit Scholarships at Saint Mary’s College of California
Saint Mary’s awards automatic merit scholarships to incoming students based on their admission application. There is no separate scholarship application for these awards, and eligibility is reviewed at the time of admission.
| Scholarship | Award Amount | Eligibility / Criteria | Separate App? | Renewable? | Who Actually Wins? | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trustee’s Scholarship | $38,000 / year | Strong academic profile; GPA typically ~3.8+ with competitive test scores* | No | Yes (4 years, with good standing) | Top academic admits in the pool; small percentage of applicants | Nov 1 priority / Jan 15 final |
| Presidential Scholarship | $36,000 / year | High GPA (~3.7–3.9) with solid ACT/SAT results* | No | Yes (4 years) | Academically strong students just below the Trustee tier | Nov 1 priority / Jan 15 final |
| Provost’s Scholarship | $34,000 / year | Solid academic profile; GPA ~3.6–3.8* | No | Yes (4 years) | Well-qualified admits with consistent academics | Nov 1 priority / Jan 15 final |
| Dean’s Scholarship | $30,000 / year | Mid-to-upper GPA range (~3.4–3.7)* | No | Yes (4 years) | Students admitted with solid grades and coursework | Nov 1 priority / Jan 15 final |
| Gael Scholarship | $26,000 / year | Baseline merit tier; GPA typically ~3.2–3.5* | No | Yes (4 years) | Most admitted students receiving merit aid | Nov 1 priority / Jan 15 final |
*GPA/test ranges are estimates based on past recipients and published profiles; actual thresholds can change by year.
Disclaimer: Award amounts and renewal terms may change annually based on funding and enrollment goals. Automatic merit awards are typically renewable for up to four years with satisfactory academic progress and may reduce institutional need-based aid rather than stack on top of it.
Saint Mary’s limits merit + other Saint Mary’s non-need-based awards to a maximum of about $50,000 per year. That means some “stacking” can look bigger on paper than it feels in your bill.
- Example: Trustee’s ($38,000) + a $6,000 departmental award = $44,000 from SMC non-need-based sources.
- If your student adds another $10,000+ in SMC awards, the portion above ~$50,000 may not increase your discount.
Tip: Ask Financial Aid how your student’s awards interact with the annual cap and whether any awards “replace” institutional grants rather than reduce billed charges.
FAQ — Automatic Merit at Saint Mary’s College of California
Do students need to apply separately for these scholarships?
No. All automatic merit scholarships are awarded as part of the admission review.
There is no additional application, essay, or interview required.
Does applying early increase scholarship chances?
Yes. Students who apply by the Nov 1 priority deadline are typically considered earlier in the process, when more scholarship funding is available.
Are test scores required to receive merit?
Saint Mary’s is test-optional, but students who submit strong ACT or SAT scores may be placed into higher merit tiers.
If you superscore, submitting all test sittings can help.
Do these scholarships stack with other awards?
Automatic merit can stack with some departmental or external scholarships, but it may reduce need-based institutional grants.
Always review the full financial aid offer to understand how awards interact.
What GPA is “safe” for the top merit tiers?
There is no guaranteed cutoff, but Trustee and Presidential awards typically go to students with very strong transcripts,
rigorous coursework, and competitive test scores when submitted.
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/first-year-students
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/admissions-aid/undergraduate/first-year-admissions
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/colleges/saint-marys-college-of-california/admissions
🏆 Flagship (Competitive) Scholarships at Saint Mary’s College of California
Unlike many large public universities, Saint Mary’s structures most of its institutional aid through automatic merit scholarships awarded at admission. There is no additional campus-wide “top scholar” competition that students must apply for separately.
That doesn’t mean strong students miss out — it just means the strategy is different. At Saint Mary’s, the largest guaranteed discounts come from:
- Automatic merit awards ($26,000–$38,000 per year for first-year students)
- Departmental scholarships (arts, communication, leadership, transfer pathways)
- Need-based institutional grants tied to FAFSA filing timing
FAQ — Competitive Scholarships at Saint Mary’s
Does Saint Mary’s have a Presidential or full-tuition scholarship?
No. Saint Mary’s does not offer a campus-wide presidential or full-tuition academic scholarship with a
separate application. The highest institutional awards are the automatic merit scholarships reviewed at admission.
Are there any competitive scholarships at all?
Yes — but they are departmental or program-specific, not university-wide.
These typically involve smaller awards ($2,000–$6,000 per year) and may require auditions,
portfolios, or faculty review.
Can high-achieving students negotiate beyond automatic merit?
Sometimes. Families occasionally see adjustments when presenting competing offers from
peer private colleges, but increases are not guaranteed and usually come in the form of
additional institutional grant aid rather than a named scholarship.
Is Saint Mary’s less generous because it lacks a flagship award?
Not necessarily. Saint Mary’s often applies large automatic merit awards to a wide range of admits,
rather than concentrating aid in a small number of highly competitive scholarships.
What’s the best strategy if your student is a top academic performer?
Apply early, submit strong grades and test scores if available, and focus on stacking
automatic merit with departmental awards and need-based aid.
That approach typically produces better results than chasing a single flagship scholarship here.
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/first-year-students
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/departmental-scholarships
🎖 Honors & Academic Enrichment at Saint Mary’s College of California
Saint Mary’s does not operate a standalone “Honors College,” but it does offer a formal, application-based Honors Program alongside rigorous core and department-level enrichment options. Students must be officially admitted to the Honors Program to graduate with Honors noted on their transcript and diploma.
| Program / Option | Who It’s For | How to Join | Key Benefits | Scholarships? | Reality Check | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honors Program | Top ~10–15% of students academically | Invitation for first-years or application (≈3.5+ GPA); current students apply Jan or June* | Honors Seminars, Honors Contracts (2 required), research showcase, priority advising, Honors LLC in Aquinas Hall | No direct award | Academic distinction and mentoring — not extra money | Entry at admission or after first year |
| Collegiate Seminar (Core) | All undergraduates | Required core curriculum | Small discussion-based classes, writing-intensive inquiry, faculty mentorship | No | Not an honors track, but academically demanding | First year (and beyond) |
| Departmental Honors | High-performing students within a major | Faculty invitation or application after enrollment* | Advanced coursework, thesis or capstone, close faculty supervision | Sometimes (department-specific) | Selective within majors; varies widely | Usually junior–senior year |
| Integral Program of Liberal Arts | Students seeking a Great Books, philosophy-centered degree | Separate BA application | Highly structured curriculum, small cohorts, intensive faculty engagement | No separate honors aid | Not an honors program — a distinct academic path | Entry at matriculation |
*Eligibility criteria, GPA thresholds, and application windows vary by year and department.
FAQ — Honors at Saint Mary’s
Is there an Honors College?
No. Saint Mary’s runs a formal Honors Program rather than a separate Honors College.
How do students get into the Honors Program?
Top first-year applicants may be invited at admission. Current students can apply with a ~3.5 GPA, typically by January 15 or June 1.
Does Honors come with extra scholarships?
No guaranteed award. Honors students often already hold top merit scholarships, but Honors itself does not automatically add funding.
What are Honors Contracts?
Honors students must complete two Honors Contracts — faculty-guided depth-of-study projects that often resemble early research or thesis work.
Is the Honors LLC worth it?
For many students, yes. Living in the Honors Living-Learning Community in Aquinas Hall provides peer support, faculty engagement, and an academically focused residential environment.
⭐ College Specialty
Saint Mary’s College of California is best known for doing something many colleges say they value — but few actually deliver at scale: small-class, discussion-driven learning paired with strong professional outcomes. Rooted in the Lasallian Catholic tradition, Saint Mary’s blends liberal arts depth with practical career preparation, making it especially attractive to students who want close faculty relationships without giving up job-ready skills.
The Integral Program of Liberal Arts — a rigorous Great Books–based curriculum combining philosophy, literature, theology, history, and science into a single interdisciplinary degree. It’s often cited as one of the most intellectually demanding undergraduate programs on the West Coast and attracts students considering graduate study, law, or teaching.
- Business & Entrepreneurship: Saint Mary’s School of Economics and Business Administration is well regarded regionally for accounting, finance, and management, with strong internship pipelines throughout the Bay Area.
- Education & Teacher Preparation: Long recognized for producing classroom-ready educators, Saint Mary’s education programs emphasize field experience, ethics, and equity, with graduates placed throughout California school districts.
- Communication, Journalism & Media: Known for writing-intensive coursework, close faculty mentorship, and applied media experience — reinforced by competitive departmental scholarships and portfolio-based learning.
- Debate & Forensics: The Macken Collegiate Forensics Program has a national reputation, giving students a rare opportunity to combine academics with competitive speech, research, and argumentation skills.
- Service-Learning & Ethics: Across majors, Saint Mary’s integrates community engagement and ethical reasoning into coursework — a hallmark of its Lasallian mission and a differentiator for families who value purpose-driven education.
🔗 Official Saint Mary’s College of California Links
Use Saint Mary’s official university resources below to verify admissions details, scholarship policies, costs, and academic programs. Always rely on these pages for final deadlines, eligibility rules, and award terms.
-
Undergraduate Admissions:
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/admissions -
Application Types & Deadlines (Early Action / Regular Decision):
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/admissions-aid/undergraduate/first-year-admissions -
Merit Scholarships & Institutional Aid:
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/scholarships/first-year-students -
Departmental, Leadership & Special Scholarships:
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/departmental-scholarships -
Tuition, Fees & Cost of Attendance:
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/financial-aid/tuition-and-fees -
Net Price Calculator:
https://npc.collegeboard.org/app/stmarys-ca -
Honors Program & Academic Enrichment:
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/academics/honors-program -
Common Data Set (Admitted Student Profile):
https://www.stmarys-ca.edu/institutional-research/common-data-set