St. Mary's vs. Elms College

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD with College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St. Mary's College of Maryland is larger than Elms College based on total student enrollment (1,630 students vs. 1,268 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• St. Mary's College of Maryland is located in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting); College of Our Lady of the Elms is in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1.

St. Mary's vs. Elms College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's 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 ($19,870 vs. $21,071).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Our Lady of the Elms are 2.9% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($15,605 vs. $16,079).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is 183.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's (about $28,027 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $15,298.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.1% higher at Elms College than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (about $11,951 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $31,374.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 196.5% larger than aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students ($33,794 vs. $11,398).

St. Mary's vs. Elms College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's 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.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Mary's College of Maryland (1240) is the same as at Elms College (1240).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; Elms College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Elms College (3.42).
• Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 10.9% at Elms College.

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

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's 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).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms's (58%).
• Graduates from St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of about $5,200 more per year than Elms College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,500 vs. $46,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $4,630 lower median loan debt than Elms College graduates ($20,370 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elms College graduates ($210 vs. $258).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.