PUC vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA with Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than PUC based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 974 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pacific Union College is located in Angwin, CA (Rural Fringe setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• Pacific Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pacific Union College 12:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

PUC vs. Saint Mary's College of California Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, PUC or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Pacific Union College than Saint Mary's College of California ($22,767 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Union College are 44.2% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($9,816 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 55.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than PUC (about $20,630 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $37,173.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 55.5% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Pacific Union College (about $20,630 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $37,173.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Pacific Union College as at Saint Mary's College of California (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 59.3% larger than aid received by Pacific Union College students ($42,407 vs. $26,629).

PUC vs. Saint Mary's College of California Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, PUC or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 Saint Mary's College of California and PUC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 100 points higher than at PUC (1060).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 22 at PUC).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pacific Union College 930/1190; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Pacific Union College 20/24; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: PUC - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at PUC (3.24).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than PUC (47.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14% at PUC vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

PUC vs. Saint Mary's College of California Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for PUC and Saint Mary's College of California? 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 of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Pacific Union College's (45%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than PUC graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $59,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than PUC graduates ($25,000 vs. $30,000).
• Among borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than PUC graduates ($258 vs. $310).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PUC students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 57%)

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.