
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
U.S. News Liberal Arts 2027
#106
Down 10 from 2026
Acceptance rate
68.6%
2025
Peer median 68.9%
Out-of-state tuition
$31,374
In-state $15,298
Peer median $55,449
Undergraduates
1,616
Student-faculty ratio 10:1
Peer median 10 : 1
Graduation rate
60.5%
4-year; 6-year rate 70.7%
Peer median 67.1%
“Peers” are the 30 closest-ranked liberal arts colleges, the same comparison used in this page's data notes.
About
St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, four-year liberal arts institution located in St. Mary's City, Maryland, with no religious affiliation. Positioned in a historic waterfront setting along the St. Mary's River, the college functions as an honors college within the state's public higher education system, emphasizing a close-knit learning environment centered primarily on undergraduate education. In the 2027 U.S. News National Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking, the institution was placed at number 106. The college offers academic programs spanning the arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences, featuring a residential community where students pursue degree studies supported by a low student-faculty ratio.
St. Mary's College of Maryland offers a comparatively affordable public liberal arts education, though completing a degree often extends past four years. For non-resident undergraduates, out-of-state tuition was $31,374 in 2025, which was higher than only 3% of peer schools among 30 similarly ranked liberal arts colleges. This makes the college significantly less expensive on paper than many comparable private institutions in the same category. Degree completion timelines, however, show notable differences between timely and extended study. The four-year graduation rate stood at 60.5% in 2025, whereas the six-year graduation rate reached 70.7%. Strong retention during the first year suggests that incoming students acclimate well to the campus environment initially. For families evaluating long-term expenses, the lower annual tuition provides clear cost relief, but the likelihood of needing additional semesters beyond the traditional four years should be accounted for in financial planning.
This collegeRanked colleges nearby
- Setting
- Rural, near a city
- Nearest major city
- Washington, DC, about 60 mi
- Nearest international airport
- Richmond International Airport (RIC), about 70 mi
- Also known as
- St. Mary's or SMCM
- Academic calendar
- Semester
- Religious affiliation
- Not applicable
- President
- Rhonda Phillips (President)
- Phone
- 2408952000
- City
- St. Mary's City, Maryland
- Address
- 47645 College Drive, St. Mary's City, MD 20686
Rankings & Admission
Peer median 68.9% · the 30 closest-ranked liberal arts colleges
Acceptance rate by gender, 2025
In 2020: men 80.2%, women 87.0%.
Best #82, lowest #106, latest #106 over the last ten years.
Data insights
Gaining admission to St. Mary's College of Maryland is relatively accessible, though the college sees only a modest portion of admitted applicants choose to enroll. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings for National Liberal Arts Colleges, the institution stood at number 106. Selectivity matches the broader sector average, with an admit rate of 68.6% in 2025, which was higher than 50% of peer schools among 30 similarly ranked liberal arts colleges. Meanwhile, its yield rate reached 17.3%, meaning less than a fifth of accepted candidates enrolled, though this drew better than 77% of peer schools in that comparison group. For prospective applicants, these admission figures indicate that well-prepared students encounter favorable acceptance odds, while the institution faces substantial competition from other regional options when assembling each incoming class.
School and Program Rankings
U.S. News school and program rankings · Click a school to see its programs, and a program for its full ranking
Undergraduate Rankings · 2027 edition
Social Sciences and Humanities2 programs—
Ranks in blue are top 10 · ▲▼ change from the previous edition · “—” means no overall ranking for that school · Medical schools are ranked in tiers since the 2025 edition
Test Scores
2025 admitted students, 25th–75th percentile · 27% submitted SAT, 5% submitted ACT · SAT/ACT optional: considered if submitted
Data insights
Applicants considering St. Mary's College of Maryland will find standardized testing benchmarks that sit near the midpoint for regional peer colleges. In 2025, the institutional median SAT score stood at 1250, which was higher than 42% of peer schools among 26 similarly ranked liberal arts colleges. For candidates who submitted ACT results, the middle 50% composite score range spanned between 26 and 31. Test submission has dropped over time, with only a minority of enrolling students providing SAT or ACT scores in recent cohorts. While standardized assessments represent only one part of the review process, hitting test results within or exceeding these established middle ranges helps demonstrate academic preparation alongside high school coursework. Candidates seeking admission should aim for rigorous secondary school performance and standardized metrics that align closely with these profile bands to maintain a competitive profile during admissions evaluation.
How Hard Is It to Get In
about 7 in 10
3,401 applicants in 2025, 68.6% admitted
2,334 admitted 1,067 not admitted Yield 17.3%
Degrees & Majors
Graduates in 2025 (first major)
U.S. studentsInternational
Popular graduate programs
- Education, General · Master's12 (0% international)
Data insights
Undergraduate degree completions at St. Mary's College of Maryland are fairly balanced across traditional sciences and humanities rather than heavily concentrated in one single discipline. In 2025, the college conferred 360 bachelor degrees, with the top three majors accounting for 32.2% of all undergraduate completions. The largest individual fields by graduate count were general psychology, environmental studies, and general biology. Program earnings vary across subject areas based on 2023 post-graduation data. Economics graduates posted the highest early career compensation, earning a median of $52,310 one year after graduation, while general psychology graduates had median earnings of $39,878. International students made up a negligible share of degree recipients across all major fields. For prospective applicants, the academic environment offers balanced enrollment across standard liberal arts subjects, allowing undergraduates to pursue diverse disciplines without dominating concentrations, although career compensation differs markedly depending on the chosen track.
All majors, graduates and earnings IPEDS · College Scorecard
*Depends on whether majors have graduates in 2025 or not, Yes / No
**Move mouse on can check deitaled graudates number, click for major detailed information
***Due to privacy policy, graduate salaries are not shown for some majors that has few gradautes
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthropology, General. | - | ||
| Economics, General. | $52,310 | ||
| Political Science and Government, General. | - | ||
| Sociology, General. | $48,301 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biology/Biological Sciences, General. | $44,492 | ||
| Biochemistry. | - | ||
| Neuroscience. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychology, General. | $39,878 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Studies. | $36,270 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visual and Performing Arts, General. | - | ||
| Fine/Studio Arts, General. | - | ||
| Music, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| History, General. | $35,628 |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Education, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marine Sciences. | - | ||
| Multi-/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chemistry, General. | - | ||
| Physics, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philosophy. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign Languages and Literatures, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Policy Analysis, General. | - |
| Major | Graduate Salary | Under | Master |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian Studies/Civilization. | - |
Students
1,630 students in 2025 · Undergraduate men to women 40:60 · Freshman retention 85.7%
- Continuing undergraduates 1,131
- First-year undergraduates 403
- Graduate students 14
- Transfers and others 82
Undergraduate race and ethnicity (1,616)
Age distribution
Bachelor's
Graduate students
Data insights
The student body at St. Mary's College of Maryland is predominantly focused on undergraduate education, with an overwhelming concentration of domestic learners. In 2025, total enrollment reached 1,630 students across all levels. Continuing undergraduates formed the primary cohort on campus at 1,131 students, while graduate study accounted for only a very small enrollment footprint. Demographic representation remains largely homogeneous, with White students comprising the clear majority across every undergraduate division. Asian students make up a minor share of the overall population, including 9 freshmen and 33 continuing undergraduate students. The presence of international students is similarly limited, totaling just a handful of individuals across entering and returning undergraduate cohorts. For incoming applicants, these enrollment statistics illustrate an intimate, undergraduate-oriented environment where student diversity is relatively modest and centered primarily within domestic regional populations.
Undergraduate education at St. Mary's College of Maryland is almost entirely centered on students of traditional college age. Among the 1,616 undergraduates enrolled in 2025, 46.5% were aged 18 to 19, and 41.1% were aged 20 to 21. Students aged 22 to 24 accounted for just 9.2% of the undergraduate student body. The graduate division is tiny, enrolling just 14 students in 2025, with individuals aged 22 to 24 comprising 78.6% of that cohort. This tight clustering within the late teens and early twenties indicates that residential life and campus programming are organized primarily around young adults moving straight from secondary school into higher education.
International Students
International share over the last 10 years · gray line: median of the 30 closest-ranked liberal arts colleges
10 in 2025 · 1.0% in 2016
0 in 2025 · 0.0% in 2016
Data insights
International enrollment at St. Mary's College of Maryland is very small and has steadily decreased over the past decade. In 2025, the college enrolled 10 undergraduate international students, representing an undergraduate international share of 0.6%. In comparison with 30 similarly ranked liberal arts colleges, this undergraduate percentage was higher than only 13% of peer schools. At the graduate level, the international student share stood at 0% in 2025. This limited footprint carries directly into degree completions, with international students earning less than one percent of bachelor degrees and no master degrees that year. None of the college's most popular undergraduate majors—including general psychology, environmental studies, and biology—graduated any international students. For international candidates evaluating their options, these patterns reflect an academic and social environment where non-resident foreign scholars are few in number, requiring students to integrate into a student body composed almost entirely of domestic peers.
Cost
2025 cost per year (out-of-state)
$47,453
- Undergrad tuition (out-of-state)
- $31,374
- Undergraduate tuition (in-state)
- $15,298
- Room and board
- $16,079
- Graduate tuition
- $21,416
Peer median tuition + room and board $69,791 · the 30 closest-ranked liberal arts colleges
Tuition rose 9% from 2016 to 2025; room and board rose 33%.
Finances · fiscal year 2024
Revenue$104M
Expenses$95.1M
Average faculty salary · 2025 (9-month equivalent)
Dark gray ticks: median pay for the same rank at the 30 closest-ranked liberal arts colleges
Campus Life
Athletics and varsity athletes NCAA · Other · North Eastern Athletic Conference
North Eastern Athletic Conference: basketball, baseball, cross country
| NCAA Division III without football | MEN | WOMEN |
|---|---|---|
| Track and Field and Cross Country (combined) | 61 | 59 |
| Lacrosse | 49 | 27 |
| Soccer | 29 | 29 |
| Rowing | 20 | 34 |
| Baseball | 39 | - |
| Swimming | 16 | 14 |
| Basketball | 13 | 14 |
| Field Hockey | - | 22 |
| Tennis | 8 | 12 |
| Sailing | - | 18 |
| Volleyball | - | 17 |
| NCAA Division III without football | MEN | WOMEN |
|---|---|---|
| Track and Field and Cross Country (combined) | 42 | 54 |
| Lacrosse | 41 | 20 |
| Rowing | 25 | 32 |
| Soccer | 30 | 25 |
| Baseball | 37 | - |
| Basketball | 21 | 12 |
| Swimming | 11 | 13 |
| Field Hockey | - | 23 |
| Tennis | 12 | 11 |
| Sailing | - | 19 |
| Volleyball | - | 15 |
| NCAA Division III without football | MEN | WOMEN |
|---|---|---|
| Lacrosse | 41 | 24 |
| Soccer | 33 | 25 |
| Rowing | 18 | 33 |
| Basketball | 19 | 14 |
| Baseball | 32 | - |
| Track and Field (Indoor) | 14 | 14 |
| Track and Field (Outdoor) | 14 | 14 |
| Cross Country | 12 | 14 |
| Field Hockey | - | 25 |
| Tennis | 12 | 13 |
| Volleyball | - | 19 |
| Swimming | 6 | 12 |
| Sailing | - | 16 |
Nearby & Safety
Ranked colleges nearby
-
United States Naval AcademyAnnapolis · 54.8 mi
Liberal Arts #3
-
St. John's College (MD)Annapolis · 54.9 mi
Liberal Arts #81
-
Gallaudet UniversityWashington · 58.3 mi
U.S. News #179
-
George Washington UniversityWashington · 59.4 mi
U.S. News #59
-
Howard UniversityWashington · 59.9 mi
U.S. News #73
-
Catholic University of AmericaWashington · 59.9 mi
U.S. News #148
-
Georgetown UniversityWashington · 60.7 mi
U.S. News #23
-
University of Maryland-College ParkCollege Park · 61.9 mi
U.S. News #49
-
Marymount UniversityArlington · 62.3 mi
U.S. News #276
Data insights
Families exploring collegiate options in the wider region can consider several institutions located within approximately 65 kilometers of St. Mary's College of Maryland. To the north in Annapolis, the United States Naval Academy is a federal service academy holding the number 3 rank among liberal arts colleges in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Adjacent to it sits St. John's College, another liberal arts institution ranked number 81. In the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, major research institutions provide contrasting academic environments, including Georgetown University, which ranked number 23 among national universities, and George Washington University, ranked number 59.
Peer median 15.2 · the 30 closest-ranked liberal arts colleges
Incidents, 2023–2025
From the Clery Act campus safety reports schools file, covering on-campus, non-campus and public property.
Data insights
Campus safety records at St. Mary's College of Maryland indicate a downward trend in overall incident rates in recent years. In 2025, the crime rate per 1,000 students stood at 18.3, reflecting a decline from previous years. When reviewing incident categories across the three-year period from 2023 to 2025, institutional disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations constituted the largest share of recorded activity, totaling 69 incidents. Among offenses involving personal safety, the college recorded 28 reports of stalking and 19 reports of rape across those same three years. Property crimes and drug violations occurred with considerably lower frequency during this timeframe. For prospective families and students reviewing campus safety conditions, these figures show that student conduct violations account for the bulk of official records, while reported personal safety offenses remain limited in volume on this residential campus.
Notable Alumni
Notable alumni of St. Mary’s College of Maryland include E-Dubble (Rapper known for Freestyle Friday series), Luis Huergo (Argentine engineer in port development) and Scott Steele (Sailor and Olympic silver medalist).
-
E-Dubble 1982–2017
Rapper known for Freestyle Friday series
-
Luis Huergo 1837–1913
Argentine engineer in port development
-
Scott Steele 1958–
Sailor and Olympic silver medalist
-
Ashani Weeraratna 1975–
Cancer researcher, Johns Hopkins professor
-
Paul Reed Smith 1956–
Guitar maker and founder of PRS Guitars
-
Ryan Grim 1978–
Journalist and author, former HuffPost bureau chief
-
Brantz Mayer 1809–1879
Writer, lawyer, founder of Maryland Historical Society
-
Edward Coote Pinkney 1802–1828
Poet, lawyer, sailor and editor
-
Brandon Scott 1984–
Mayor of Baltimore
More alumni (7, by field)
Politics and law
-
David Fraser-Hidalgo 1969–
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
-
Joseph McGahn 1917–1999
New Jersey state senator who helped bring Atlantic City casinos
-
Jessica Fitzwater 1983–
Frederick County Executive in Maryland
-
Robert White 1982–
Attorney and representative-elect for Washington, D.C
Arts and media
-
Vivian Shaw
Science fiction writer of the Greta Helsing series
Sports
-
Mayumi Roller 1991–
US Virgin Islands sailor and actress
-
Farrah Hall 1981–
American windsurfer
From Wikidata “educated at” records (including people who attended without graduating), ordered by the number of Wikipedia language editions. Degrees and years follow Wikidata and are left out where it has none.
Recent News at St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Summarized daily from the school's official news. Click "Source" for the original story.
-
St. Mary's College of Maryland's Master of Arts in Teaching program earned five-year initial AAQEP accreditation, the first national accreditation for a teacher education program at the college.
Source: inside.smcm.edu -
St. Mary's College of Maryland received R/V CY46, a 46-foot purpose-built research vessel for its marine science program, on Oct. 7; a $900,000 federal appropriation paid for the vessel and scientific equipment.
Source: inside.smcm.edu
No updates on this topic in this month.
References and Data Sources
- St. Mary’s College of Maryland Official Website
- USNews Best National Liberal Arts Colleges Ranking
- USNews Bset Global Universities Ranking
- THE World University Ranking
- QS World University Ranking
- ARWU World University Ranking
- US Department of Education College Scorecard
- National Center for Education Statistics
- Forward Pathway US College Ranking Database
Data from IPEDS (U.S. Department of Education), U.S. News, THE, QS, ARWU and Clery Act campus safety reports. Data insights are written by the Forward Pathway data team from public data.