Saint Mary's College of California vs. Carroll College

Comparable Facts

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

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than Carroll College based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 1,156 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Carroll College is in Helena, MT (Remote Town setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Carroll College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; Carroll College 12:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California or Carroll 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 Carroll College than Saint Mary's College of California ($25,575 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Carroll College are 34.4% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($11,548 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 39.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Carroll College (about $16,319 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $41,484.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 39.3% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Carroll College (about $16,319 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $41,484.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California as at Carroll College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 41.1% larger than aid received by Carroll College students ($42,407 vs. $30,058).

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

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Carroll College (1180) is 20 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 24) as students at Carroll College (24).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; Carroll College 1050/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; Carroll College 21/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; Carroll College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027; Carroll College Feb 28, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Carroll College students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Carroll College (70.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 21.6% at Carroll College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California and Carroll 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 of California's six-year graduation rate (61%) is higher than Carroll College's (59%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $19,300 more per year than Carroll College graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $47,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Carroll College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Carroll College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Carroll College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 71%)

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.