St. Mary's College vs. Louisville

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN with University of Louisville in Louisville, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Louisville is larger than St. Mary's College based on total student enrollment (23,065 students vs. 1,601 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); University of Louisville is in Louisville, KY (Large City setting).
• Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Louisville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College 9:1; University of Louisville 14:1.

St. Mary's College vs. Louisville Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's College or Louisville? 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 University of Louisville than St. Mary's College ($19,785 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Louisville are 11.8% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($12,576 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 305.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Louisville (about $40,094 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $13,136.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80.6% higher at St. Mary's College than at University of Louisville (about $23,748 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $29,482.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at University of Louisville (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 164% larger than aid received by University of Louisville students ($38,748 vs. $14,677).

St. Mary's College vs. Louisville Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College (1230) is 70 points higher than at Louisville (1160).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 23 at Louisville).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 1130/1325; University of Louisville 1040/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 26/30; University of Louisville 19/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's College - Test optional; Louisville - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Louisville Feb 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Louisville (3.64).
• Louisville has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than St. Mary's College (76%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at St. Mary's College vs. 25.1% at Louisville.

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

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's College and Louisville? 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 University of Louisville's (51%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than Louisville graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $45,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Louisville graduates have a $7,344 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's College graduates ($19,656 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Louisville graduates have an estimated $76 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's College graduates ($203 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Louisville students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 58%)

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.