St. Mary's vs. Houghton University

Comparable Facts

Compare St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD with Houghton University in Houghton, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St. Mary's College of Maryland is larger than Houghton University based on total student enrollment (1,630 students vs. 1,200 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); Houghton University is in Houghton, NY (Remote Rural setting).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Houghton University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1; Houghton University 12:1.

St. Mary's vs. Houghton University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's or Houghton University? 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland than Houghton University ($21,071 vs. $21,274).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Houghton University are 29.3% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($11,360 vs. $16,079).
• Houghton University is 20.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Mary's (about $3,132 more per year; $18,430.00 vs. $15,298.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.2% higher at St. Mary's than at Houghton University (about $12,944 more per year; $31,374.00 vs. $18,430.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Houghton University than at St. Mary's College of Maryland (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students is 15.1% larger than aid received by Houghton University students ($11,398 vs. $9,902).

St. Mary's vs. Houghton University Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Houghton University (1270) is 30 points higher than at St. Mary's (1240).
• Incoming St. Mary's students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 28) as students at Houghton University (28).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340; Houghton University 1170/1375.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31; Houghton University 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's - Test optional; Houghton University - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Houghton University (3.25).
• Houghton University has a higher acceptance rate (88.7%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at St. Mary's vs. 23.2% at Houghton University.

St. Mary's vs. Houghton University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's and Houghton University? 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 Houghton University's (68%).
• Graduates from St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Houghton University graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,500 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $5,130 lower median loan debt than Houghton University graduates ($20,370 vs. $25,500).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $53 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Houghton University graduates ($210 vs. $263).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Houghton University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 77%)

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.