Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, Indiana · Private Nonprofit · 76.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 62/100 · Fair Value
Saint Mary's College, the women's Catholic liberal arts school adjacent to Notre Dame, scores 62 (Fair Value). The cost discounting is meaningful: $53,230 sticker drops to a $25,292 net price (52% institutional discount). With $27,000 median federal debt and ten-year median earnings of $59,354, the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.607 produces a 9.9-year payback. The standout metrics are completion (69.3%) and repayment rate (87.4%, one of the highest in this batch), reflecting both the school's academic quality and its mostly middle-to-upper-income student profile. The 23.9% Pell rate is modest, and the 1,458-student all-women enrollment maintains a distinctive intimate liberal arts environment with Notre Dame cross-registration. Earnings 10 years out at $59K reflect a heavy liberal-arts mix - nursing and accounting graduates outperform the median, while psychology and communications drag it down. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Saint Mary's College is a defensible value for students who match its mission, particularly those who pick the strong professional programs.
Saint Mary's College
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $53,230/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $53,230/yr |
| Average net price | $25,292/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $101,168 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $59,354 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,500 |
| Median debt at graduation | $27,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 69.3% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,458 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The sticker price at Saint Mary's College is $53,230/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $25,292/year, or roughly $101,168 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $16,760/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $30,443/year.
The median graduate leaves with $27,000 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $286 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $59,354 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.61 - within the recommended range but worth monitoring.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,760 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $18,152 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,014 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $23,680 |
| $110,001+ | $30,443 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30K pay $16,760 net per year - genuinely strong for a sticker-$53K private. The $30K-$48K band pays $18,152. Saint Mary's institutional aid stacks well with Pell for low-income students, producing a roughly $67K-$73K four-year cost that works for any reasonably strong major.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48K-$75K band pays $21,014 and the $75K-$110K band pays $23,680. Middle-income families face $84K-$95K in four-year out-of-pocket cost. Solid for nursing, accounting, and the pre-med biology pipeline; tighter for the liberal-arts cohort exiting at a bachelor's only.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110K pay $30,443 net per year, totaling roughly $122K over four years. For families committed to a Catholic women's college experience, this is the price; the value math works for high-earning major choices and falls apart for terminal humanities degrees.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Saint Mary's College with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $80,396 | B |
| Psychology | $58,218 | D |
| Teacher Education | $51,665 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $73,449 | C+ |
| Biology | $68,409 | B |
| Communication and Media Studies | $66,335 | D |
| Communication Disorders Sciences | $66,587 | B |
| International/Globalization Studies | $25,164 | - |
| Accounting | $98,107 | B |
| Social Work | $49,555 | - |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Saint Mary's strongest reliable ROI: 47 graduates with $74,962 first-year earnings, $27,000 debt, and a 0.36 D/E ratio (B grade). Saint Mary's nursing graduates feed into South Bend, Chicago, and Indianapolis hospital systems. The combination of a regulated license and strong starting earnings makes this the most defensible path on campus.
Accounting
Accounting produces 13 graduates with $71,234 first-year earnings, $98,107 at four years out, $27,000 debt, and a 0.379 D/E ratio (B grade). Notre Dame proximity and the strong Mendoza College of Business cross-registration help Saint Mary's accounting students compete for top regional firm placements. High-confidence positive ROI.
Biology
Biology produces 25 graduates with $68,409 four-year earnings, $27,000 debt, and a 0.395 D/E ratio (B grade). Strong outcomes for a biology program, likely reflecting heavy pre-med matriculation and graduate-school enrollment. Students still need a clear graduate plan; bachelor's-only outcomes will be weaker than the four-year figures suggest.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education enrolls 31 graduates with $41,286 first-year earnings, $27,000 debt, and a 0.654 D/E ratio (C grade). Indiana teacher salaries cap the upside, and the private-school debt load creates real friction. Workable for students committed to teaching, but financially weaker than the school's nursing or accounting pipelines.
Psychology
Psychology enrolls 35 graduates with $32,213 first-year earnings, $27,000 debt, and a 0.838 D/E ratio (D grade). The familiar bachelor's-only psychology problem: graduates earn near payment thresholds. Saint Mary's psychology students need a concrete graduate-school path to make this work economically; the bachelor's alone is a weak credential against this debt load.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 87.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 87.4% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 86.5% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 92.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 76.0% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 550-645 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 580-680 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 26-30 |
| Enrollment | 1,458 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 23.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,935 |
Saint Mary's admits 76% of applicants with SAT mid-ranges of 550-645 math and 580-680 reading, and an ACT band of 26-30. Solidly selective for a small liberal arts college - the school screens for academically prepared women who can succeed in its rigorous Catholic liberal arts curriculum. The 69.3% completion rate aligns with this admit profile: well-matched students who persist to graduation at high rates.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Among named peers, Saint Mary's 62 ROI sits comfortably mid-pack among small Catholic and Christian liberal arts schools. Anderson University-IN and Bethel University-IN, both Indiana faith-based schools, post lower ROIs reflecting less program prestige and smaller professional pipelines. John Brown University and Walla Walla University post comparable numbers. AdventHealth University scores higher driven by its specialized healthcare focus. Saint Mary's Notre Dame adjacency provides intangible labor-market signaling that the peer schools generally lack.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary's College (this school) | 62 | $25,292 | $59,354 |
| John Brown University | 64 | $20,397 | $53,907 |
| AdventHealth University | 63 | $30,135 | $72,282 |
| Walla Walla University | 62 | $23,329 | $61,885 |
| Bethel University | 34 | $18,610 | $48,860 |
| Anderson University | 32 | $25,021 | $48,899 |
Who Thrives Here
Saint Mary's fits academically prepared women drawn to a Catholic women's college and the Notre Dame community, particularly those targeting nursing, accounting, communication disorders, or biology with pre-med intent. With 23.9% Pell rate and 1,458 students, the campus is middle-to-upper-middle income and intimate. Strong fit for students who value single-sex education within a co-ed adjacent community via ND cross-registration. Weak fit for women seeking large-scale STEM research opportunities or low-cost paths to degree.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Saint Mary's College offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $25,292 per year leads to $101,168 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $59,354 a decade out. The payback period of 9.9 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: a 69.3% graduation rate, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $27,000 against $59,354 in earnings is reasonable, though major choice matters significantly. Students in higher-earning programs will see better returns.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.