IU vs. St. Mary's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than St. Mary's College based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 1,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Saint Mary's College is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
• Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Saint Mary's College 9:1.

IU vs. St. Mary's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU or St. Mary's College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Bloomington than St. Mary's College ($17,270 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 1.9% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($13,984 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 338.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $41,086 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $12,144.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.1% higher at St. Mary's College than at Indiana University Bloomington (about $11,339 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $41,891.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Indiana University Bloomington (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 269.5% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($38,748 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. St. Mary's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU or St. Mary's College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between St. Mary's College and IU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 60 points higher than at St. Mary's College (1230).
• Incoming IU students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 28 at St. Mary's College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Saint Mary's College 1130/1325.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Saint Mary's College 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; St. Mary's College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at IU (3.74).
• IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than St. Mary's College (76%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 20.1% at St. Mary's College.

IU vs. St. Mary's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU and St. Mary's College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
• Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than St. Mary's College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($232 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 72%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.