USF vs. Saint Mary's College of California

Comparable Facts

Compare University of San Francisco in San Francisco, 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 San Francisco is larger than Saint Mary's College of California based on total student enrollment (8,913 students vs. 2,734 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• University of San Francisco is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College of California is in Moraga, CA (Large Suburban setting).
• University of San Francisco is a private, 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 San Francisco 11:1; Saint Mary's College of California 10:1.

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

Which college is more expensive, USF 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 Saint Mary's College of California than USF ($35,332 vs. $45,443).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College of California are 10.9% lower than at University of San Francisco ($17,600 vs. $19,764).
• University of San Francisco is 4.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saint Mary's College of California (about $2,689 more per year; $60,492.00 vs. $57,803.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 4.7% higher at USF than at Saint Mary's College of California (about $2,689 more per year; $60,492.00 vs. $57,803.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College of California than at University of San Francisco (100% vs. 95%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College of California students is 22.1% larger than aid received by University of San Francisco students ($42,407 vs. $34,723).

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

Which college is harder to get into, USF 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 USF.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of San Francisco (1290) is 130 points higher than at Saint Mary's College of California (1160).
• Incoming USF students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (27 vs. 24 at Saint Mary's College of California).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of San Francisco 1190/1390; Saint Mary's College of California 1070/1253.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of San Francisco 25/30; Saint Mary's College of California 21/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USF - Test optional; Saint Mary's College of California - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: USF Jan 15, 2027; Saint Mary's College of California Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Saint Mary's College of California students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at USF (3.57).
• Saint Mary's College of California has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than USF (61.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6% at USF vs. 9.5% at Saint Mary's College of California.

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

How do outcomes compare for USF 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 San Francisco's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Saint Mary's College of California's (61%).
• Graduates from University of San Francisco earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Saint Mary's College of California graduates about ten years after starting college ($70,400 vs. $66,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College of California and USF graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Saint Mary's College of California and USF graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More USF graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's College of California students, three years after graduation. (73% 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.