Saint Mary's College of California vs. Principia College

Comparable Facts

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

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than Principia College based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 339 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Principia College is in Elsah, Illinois (Rural Fringe setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Principia College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; Principia College 6:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California or Principia 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 Saint Mary's College of California ($18,248 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Principia College are 21% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($13,910 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 66.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Principia College (about $23,123 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $34,680.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 66.7% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Principia College (about $23,123 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $34,680.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at Principia College (100% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 39.5% larger than aid received by Principia College students ($42,407 vs. $30,402).

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

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 10 points higher than at Principia College (1150).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at Principia College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; Principia College 1040/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; Principia College 19/23.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; Principia College - Not reported.
• Typical fall application deadline: Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Principia College (3.34).

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

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California and Principia 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.