UCLA vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

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

University of California Los Angeles is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (47,335 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of California Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of California Los Angeles is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College of California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: University of California Los Angeles 20:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, UCLA or Saint Mary's College of California? 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 California Los Angeles than Saint Mary's College of California ($14,512 vs. $35,332).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 4.2% lower than at University of California Los Angeles ($17,600 vs. $18,369).
• Saint Mary's College of California is 280.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than UCLA (about $42,600 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $15,203.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17% higher at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Los Angeles (about $8,400 more per year; $57,803.00 vs. $49,403.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of California Los Angeles (100% vs. 49%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 65.5% larger than aid received by University of California Los Angeles students ($42,407 vs. $25,627).

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

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of California Los Angeles (1420) is 260 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming UCLA students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 24 at Saint Mary's College of California).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 1300/1530; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of California Los Angeles 29/35; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UCLA - Test-free; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: UCLA Nov 30, 2026; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UCLA students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at Saint Mary's College of California (3.6).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than UCLA (9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 50.4% at UCLA vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

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

How do outcomes compare for UCLA and Saint Mary's College of California? 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).

• University of California Los Angeles's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Saint Mary's College of California's (61%).
• Graduates from University of California Los Angeles earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than Saint Mary's College of California graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,700 vs. $66,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of California Los Angeles graduates have a $8,700 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($16,300 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, UCLA graduates have an estimated $90 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's College of California graduates ($168 vs. $258).
• More UCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 71%)

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.