Principia College vs. St. Mary's College

Comparable Facts

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

Saint Mary's College is larger than Principia College based on total student enrollment (1,601 students vs. 339 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Principia College is located in Elsah, Illinois (Rural Fringe setting); Saint Mary's College is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
• Principia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Principia College 6:1; Saint Mary's College 9:1.

Principia College vs. St. Mary's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Principia College 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 Principia College than St. Mary's College ($18,248 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Principia College are 2.5% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($13,910 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 53.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Principia College (about $18,550 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $34,680.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.5% higher at St. Mary's College than at Principia College (about $18,550 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $34,680.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Principia College (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 27.5% larger than aid received by Principia College students ($38,748 vs. $30,402).

Principia College vs. St. Mary's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Principia College 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 Principia College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College (1230) is 80 points higher than at Principia College (1150).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 21 at Principia College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Principia College 1040/1250; Saint Mary's College 1130/1325.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Principia College 19/23; Saint Mary's College 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Principia College - Not reported; St. Mary's College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Principia College (3.34).

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

How do outcomes compare for Principia College 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).

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.