Saint Mary's College of California vs. AMU

Deciding between Saint Mary's College of California and Ave Maria University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Saint Mary's College of California
Ave Maria University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, CA
  • AMU Ave Maria, FL
  • Setting
  • Saint Mary's College of California Large Suburban
  • AMU Distant Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Saint Mary's College of California 2,734
  • AMU 1,423
  • Type
  • Saint Mary's College of California Private 4 Year
  • AMU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Saint Mary's College of California #281
  • AMU #625
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Saint Mary's College of California Roman Catholic
  • AMU Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Saint Mary's College of California Non-profit
  • AMU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Saint Mary's College of California
  • AMU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Saint Mary's College of California $57,803
  • AMU $30,198
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Saint Mary's College of California $57,803
  • AMU $30,198
  • Room & Board
  • Saint Mary's College of California $17,600
  • AMU $14,432
  • Average Net Price
  • Saint Mary's College of California $35,332
  • AMU $25,294
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's College of California $42,407
  • AMU $20,936
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Saint Mary's College of California 100%
  • AMU 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Saint Mary's College of California 5,175
  • AMU 2,689
  • Admitted
  • Saint Mary's College of California 4,478
  • AMU 1,113
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Saint Mary's College of California 86.5%
  • AMU 41.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Saint Mary's College of California 9.5%
  • AMU 32.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Saint Mary's College of California 1160
  • AMU 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • Saint Mary's College of California 24
  • AMU 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • Saint Mary's College of California 3.6
  • AMU 3.6
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Saint Mary's College of California A-
  • AMU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Saint Mary's College of California Average
  • AMU Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Saint Mary's College of California
  • AMU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Saint Mary's College of California 21/28
  • AMU 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253
  • AMU 1018/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Saint Mary's College of California Test-free
  • AMU Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027
  • AMU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Saint Mary's College of California 10:1
  • AMU 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Saint Mary's College of California
    • Business (30%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • AMU
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (22%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Saint Mary's College of California 61%
  • AMU 41%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Saint Mary's College of California $66,800
  • AMU N/A
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Saint Mary's College of California 71%
  • AMU 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Saint Mary's College of California $25,000
  • AMU $22,428
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Saint Mary's College of California $258
  • AMU $231

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Saint Mary's College of California 42%
  • AMU 48%
  • % Women
  • Saint Mary's College of California 58%
  • AMU 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Saint Mary's College of California High
  • AMU Medium
  • HBCU
  • Saint Mary's College of California No
  • AMU No
  • % White
  • Saint Mary's College of California 46%
  • AMU 61%
  • % Asian
  • Saint Mary's College of California 10%
  • AMU 3%
  • % Black
  • Saint Mary's College of California 4%
  • AMU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Saint Mary's College of California 25%
  • AMU 15%
  • % Native American
  • Saint Mary's College of California 0%
  • AMU 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Saint Mary's College of California 1%
  • AMU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Saint Mary's College of California 7%
  • AMU 0%
  • % International
  • Saint Mary's College of California 2%
  • AMU 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Saint Mary's College of California 4%
  • AMU 13%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Saint Mary's College of California 84%
  • AMU 28%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Saint Mary's College of California 14%
  • AMU 70%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Saint Mary's College of California Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Saint Mary's College of California No
  • AMU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Saint Mary's College of California Yes
  • AMU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Saint Mary's College of California No
  • AMU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Saint Mary's College of California No
  • AMU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA with Ave Maria University in Ave Maria, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than AMU based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 1,423 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Ave Maria University is in Ave Maria, FL (Distant Rural setting).
  • Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Ave Maria University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; Ave Maria University 17:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California or AMU? 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 Ave Maria University than Saint Mary's College of California ($25,294 vs. $35,332).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Ave Maria University are 18% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($14,432 vs. $17,600).
  • Saint Mary's College of California is 91.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than AMU (about $27,605 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 91.4% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Ave Maria University (about $27,605 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $30,198.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California as at Ave Maria University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 102.6% larger than aid received by Ave Maria University students ($42,407 vs. $20,936).

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

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 30 points higher than at AMU (1130).
  • Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at AMU (24).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; Ave Maria University 1018/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; Ave Maria University 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; AMU - 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 the same average high school GPA (3.6) as students at AMU (3.6).
  • Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than AMU (41.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 32.8% at AMU.

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

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California and AMU? 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 Ave Maria University's (41%).
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Ave Maria University graduates have a $2,572 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($22,428 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, AMU graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($231 vs. $258).
  • More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AMU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 53%)

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.