Loras College vs. College of Saint Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Loras College in Dubuque, IA with College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Loras College is larger than College of Saint Mary based on total student enrollment (1,189 students vs. 786 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Loras College is located in Dubuque, IA (Small City setting); College of Saint Mary is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
• Loras College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Saint Mary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Loras College 12:1; College of Saint Mary 8:1.

Loras College vs. College of Saint Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loras College or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary than Loras College ($17,078 vs. $21,631).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Saint Mary are 17.4% lower than at Loras College ($9,084 vs. $11,000).
• Loras College is 62.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than College of Saint Mary (about $15,314 more per year; $39,824.00 vs. $24,510.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 62.5% higher at Loras College than at College of Saint Mary (about $15,314 more per year; $39,824.00 vs. $24,510.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Loras College as at College of Saint Mary (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Loras College students is 53% larger than aid received by College of Saint Mary students ($28,835 vs. $18,847).

Loras College vs. College of Saint Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loras College or College of Saint Mary? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of Saint Mary and Loras College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loras College - Test-free; College of Saint Mary - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman Loras College students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at College of Saint Mary (3.4).
• Loras College has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than College of Saint Mary (44.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Loras College vs. 35.3% at College of Saint Mary.

Loras College vs. College of Saint Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loras College and College of Saint Mary? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Loras College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than College of Saint Mary's (30%).
• Graduates from Loras College earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than College of Saint Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $41,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Saint Mary graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Loras College graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, College of Saint Mary graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Loras College graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Loras College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Saint Mary students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 59%)

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.