St. Mary's College vs. Elms College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN with College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College is larger than Elms College based on total student enrollment (1,601 students vs. 1,268 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); College of Our Lady of the Elms is in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College 9:1; College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's College or Elms 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms than St. Mary's College ($19,870 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College are 8.6% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($14,260 vs. $15,605).
• Saint Mary's College is 22.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Elms College (about $9,905 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $43,325.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22.9% higher at St. Mary's College than at College of Our Lady of the Elms (about $9,905 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $43,325.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College as at College of Our Lady of the Elms (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 14.7% larger than aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students ($38,748 vs. $33,794).

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

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's College or Elms 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 Elms College and St. Mary's College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 10 points higher than at St. Mary's College (1230).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 1130/1325; College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's College - Test optional; Elms College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Elms College (3.42).
• Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than St. Mary's College (76%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at St. Mary's College vs. 10.9% at Elms College.

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

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's College and Elms 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's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms's (58%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Elms College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $46,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Elms College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 61%)

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.