Saint Marys College of California Admission Requirements

Admission Rate & Difficulty

Acceptance Rate

The acceptance rate at Saint Marys College of California is 87.9%.  Its admission rate is the 81st lowest in California.

Admission Selectivity

How hard is it to get into Saint Marys College of California and can you get accepted?

Saint Marys College of California is an easy school to get into and you have a very good chance of acceptance if you meet the admission criteria. Last year, 2,947 out of the 3,353 who applied were admitted.

Saint Marys College of California typically accepts and attracts "B+" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.6. 15% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.

Can you get into Saint Marys College of California?

88% are accepted, can you get in? Use the admission calculator to see if you have the grades and test scores needed to get in. See your admission chances based on your extracurriculars, intended major, background, and more.

Admission Requirements in Brief

To have the best chance of getting into to Saint Marys College of California you should:

• Have a high school GPA of 3.6 or better
• Earn B+ grades in high school
• Score 1160 on the SAT
• Score 24 on the ACT

GPA Requirements & Average GPA

What GPA do you need to get into Saint Marys College of California?

GPA Requirements

The GPA requirements for getting into Saint Marys College of California are to have around a 3.6 high school GPA. You are required to have very good grades in high school.

If your high school grades are above the average 3.6 GPA, you have a very good chance of being admitted as Saint Marys College of California accepts 88% of applicants.

Average GPA

The average unweighted GPA at Saint Marys College of California is 3.6 on the 4.0 scale. 21% of students who get in have perfect 4.0 GPA's in high school. To achieve the average GPA for admission, you need to earn B+ letter grades and regularly score around 87-89 percent on tests and assignments in high school.  The school ranks #40 in California for highest average GPA.

Importance of GPA

Since Saint Marys College of California is a test optional college, extra focus will be placed on your GPA when the school considers your application. As a result, it is very important that you meet the GPA requirements.

See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.6 GPA range.

Competitiveness by GPA Ranges

The table below outlines the number of admitted freshmen by GPA range as well as how competitive your GPA will be as compared with other applicants.

 What do these chances mean?

GPA Data Source, Peterson's Data 2022

Testing Requirements

Submission of SAT or ACT scores is not required by Saint Marys College of California. The school has a test blind policy.

SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score

SAT Scores you need to get in

What are the SAT requirements for you to be admitted to Saint Marys College of California?

Average Score & Range

The average SAT score at Saint Marys College of California is 1160 out of 1600 and the range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1070-1253. Students who get into Saint Marys College of California score in the top 47 percent of all SAT test takers..  Saint Marys College of California ranks #36 in the state of California for highest average SAT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

You should target scoring 1160 or above to be most competitive with other applicants. Saint Marys College of California regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1070 on a 1600 scale. However, three quarter of admitted students score higher. If you score below a 1070, admission should be considered a reach. Some students may be accepted with minimum SAT's as low as 980, but scores this low are outside the normal range.

Score Submission Requirements

Saint Marys College of California is a test optional school meaning do not have to submit SAT scores with your application. The position on SAT scores from the college is "not considered for admission, even if submitted (test blind)".

View other colleges which accept students in the 1160 SAT score range.

Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score

The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1161, you have around a 88% chance of being admitted. A 1253 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 93% chance of getting in.

ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score

ACT Scores needed to get accepted

What are the ACT requirements for students to get into Saint Marys College of California?

Score Range

The average ACT score for admitted students to Saint Marys College of California is 24, while the middle 50% of students (25th to 75th percentile) score between a 21 and 28.  The school ranks #38 in California for highest average ACT composite score.

Score for Acceptance

For the best chance of admission, you should have an ACT of 24. This will place you in solid competition against other applicants. At a minimum, you should aim for a 21 and score in the score in the top 43 percent nationally. The lowest ACT score likely to be admitted is a 18.

48 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Saint Marys College of California.

Score Submission Requirements

You do not have to to submit ACT scores with your application as Saint Marys College of California is test optional. The policy from the school on ACT scores is "not considered for admission, even if submitted (test blind)".

Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements

Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score

Here are your predicted chances of getting into Saint Marys College of California for different ACT score ranges. A typical applicant with a 24 score has around 88% chance of getting in. Your odds increase to about 94% with a 28 ACT score.

Admission Statistics

Admission and enrollment rates by gender are detailed the the table below.

Fall 2024 Application Deadline

Application Fee

The cost for prospective students to apply to Saint Marys College of California is $60.

Application Requirements

What are the requirements for admission to Saint Marys College of California and what student information is used for admission decisions?

Credits Accepted

Admission Requirements Summary

Because Saint Marys College of California is lightly competitive to get into, you have a very good chance of acceptance with the right GPA and test scores. If you have a 3.6 GPA, you are almost certain to getting in. Combining this with an SAT score of 1160 and ACT of 24 will almost guarantee your admission.