Saint Mary's College of California vs. SVU

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College of California in Moraga, CA with Southern Virginia University in Buena Vista, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College of California is larger than SVU based on total student enrollment (2,734 students vs. 936 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College of California is located in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting); Southern Virginia University is in Buena Vista, VA (Distant Town setting).
• Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Southern Virginia University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College of California 10:1; Southern Virginia University 14:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, Saint Mary's College of California or SVU? 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 Southern Virginia University than Saint Mary's College of California ($24,561 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Virginia University are 43.8% lower than at Saint Mary's College of California ($9,894 vs. $17,600).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 171.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than SVU (about $36,523 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 171.6% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at Southern Virginia University (about $36,523 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $21,280.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California as at Southern Virginia University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 322.3% larger than aid received by Southern Virginia University students ($42,407 vs. $10,041).

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

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College of California (1160) is 60 points higher than at SVU (1100).
• Incoming Saint Mary's College of California students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at SVU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253; Southern Virginia University 943/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College of California 21/28; Southern Virginia University 18/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free; SVU - 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 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at SVU (3.19).
• SVU has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Saint Mary's College of California (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California vs. 21.4% at SVU.

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

How do outcomes compare for Saint Mary's College of California and SVU? 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 Southern Virginia University's (25%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College of California earn a median of about $26,200 more per year than SVU graduates about ten years after starting college ($66,800 vs. $40,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Southern Virginia University graduates have a $1,346 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($23,654 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, SVU graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($244 vs. $258).
• More Saint Mary's College of California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SVU 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.