Saint Mary’s is Known for Transforming Lives.
But don’t take our word for it. Saint Mary’s consistently rates high in awards of distinction from U.S. News and World Report, The Princeton Review, Money Magazine, and others.
CTCL.org
2024
The Princeton Review
The Best 390 Colleges: 2025 Edition
Money Magazine
2024
Payscale.com
In the U.S. for Earning Potential, 2024
Washington Monthly
Among Master’s Universities in the U.S., 2024
U.S. News & World Report
Western Regional Universities: Best Colleges, 2025
U.S. News & World Report
Best Value Schools, 2025
The Princeton Review
Guide to 353 Green Colleges, 2023
LaSallian Tradition and Heritage
“Top Lasallian master’s university in the country” —Washington Monthly, 2023
As a Lasallian institution, Saint Mary’s is devoted to high-quality, transformative, equitable, and inclusive education.
Saint Mary’s is a leader in a global Lasallian network—of 65 universities through the International Association of La Salle Universities (IALU) and over 1,000 educational centers for students of all ages— that spans 80 countries. Our students and faculty often engage in worldwide collaborations and experiences.
Since the College was founded in 1863, Saint Mary’s has been touching hearts, inspiring minds, and transforming lives. Together, we carry on a 340 year tradition of dialogue-driven, student-centered teaching and scholarship, learning, and development.
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Hispanic Serving Institution
Since 2015, Saint Mary's has earned the distinction of being a federally recognized Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), with more than 25% of SMC students of Latinx or Hispanic descent.
Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution
As a designated Asian American Native American Pacific Islander–Serving Institution (AANAPISI), Saint Mary’s is helping to empower generations of underserved students.
Colleges That Change Lives Institution
Saint Mary's College of California is the only Catholic college and the only California college in the history of the prestigious college guide.
Academic Grants & Funding
The teaching scholars at Saint Mary’s engage in research, developing curriculum, and teaching innovations that are a hallmark of a Saint Mary’s education. More than that, Saint Mary’s educators shape work that is helping transform educational opportunities more broadly. Their work draws recognition and support from leading educational funders—from the National Science Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities to the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing. Scholars from every school at SMC have been awarded Fulbright fellowships in recent years, building global connections and earning Saint Mary’s recognition from the US State Department as a Top Producing Fulbright Institution and a Fulbright Hispanic-Serving Institution Leader.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded Saint Mary’s a 5-year, $1.2 million Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Track 1 grant from 2023-2028. Under the leadership of Mary Raygoza (Teacher Education), Vidya Chandrasekaran (Biology), and Aaron Lee (Physics & Astronomy), the collaborative effort between the Kalmanovitz School of Education and the School of Science strives to prepare socially and culturally responsive K–12 STEM teachers.
Anastasia Chavez (Mathematics & Computer Science) received a two-year NSF PRIMES (Partnerships for Research Innovation in the Mathematical Sciences) grant through a program meant to support faculty at minority-serving institutions in research conducted with NSF-funded mathematics institutes. The grant is supporting Dr. Chavez for a year of academic leave to conduct research at UCLA’s Institute for Pure and Applied Mathematics, then return to SMC for teaching and additional research.
Saint Mary’s is one of three California Catholic Universities to receive a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education to lead a three-year initiative to support the creation and use of open educational resources (OER). OERs are teaching and learning materials across multiple disciplines that are free of cost and access barriers.
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing awarded the Kalmanovitz School of Education a two-year grant for the “Saint Mary’s College Teachers for Tomorrow Expansion Project” from 2023-2025 under the leadership of Monica Fitzgerald. The award was made through the Integrated Teacher Preparation Program Implementation and Expansion Grant program.
Notable Saint Mary’s College Alumni
Saint Mary’s has provided transformative experiences for Gaels who have gone on to make significant contributions in their communities, across the country, and around the world—in fields ranging from science and technology, the arts, and education to politics, athletics, business, and beyond. Discover more about our prestigious alumni.
Division I Athletics
The Gaels boast 25 combined WCC championships. The men’s basketball program is California's winningest team since 2007, securing three of the last six WCC titles. In 2024, Gaels Men's Basketball Student-Athletes secured numerous WCC Awards, including WCC Players of the Year, WCC Defensive Player of the Year, and WCC Tournament Most Outstanding Player. Additionally, the College consistently ranks among the leaders in the WCC Commissioner’s Cup for excellence in all sports, securing second and third-place finishes in recent years.
38
NCAA Tournament Appearances
18
NCAA D1 Championship Sports
325
Student-Athletes in the WCC
Club Sports
Whether you are a student who enjoys the excitement of learning something new, or you are a top-tier athlete who strives to remain competitive while at Saint Mary's, the Club Sports program offers a great place to connect. From repeat national champion Men’s Rugby to Women’s Lacrosse and co-ed tennis, teamwork is a big part of the Gael community.
15
Active Club Sports
375
Club Sport Athletes
16
Rugby USA National Team Players since 1971
3
USA Rugby Hall of Fame Inductees
College Facts & Figures
Undergraduate Student Population
Student Gender
