Saint Mary's College Of California

Saint Mary's College of California's published cost of attendance is $77,659. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,462, middle-income families pay around $23,303, and higher-income families pay approximately $40,581.

Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's College of California #1279 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Saint Mary's College participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA, and the college evaluates demonstrated financial need to determine aid packages.

The affordability rank reflects both the headline sticker price and the debt load graduates carry: [net price and sticker price can differ substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/), and understanding that gap helps families budget realistically for four years. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,691, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $58,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $74,325, median federal debt of $23,691 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Saint Mary's College of California earn median 4-year earnings of $74,325, placing Saint Mary's College of California in the 74.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,027 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Saint Mary's College of California in the 82.7 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Saint Mary's College of California #250 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Saint Mary's College of California's concentration in business and professional fields.

Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 148 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $80,262, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark for the field. General Studies enrolls 64 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $68,501, at 1.3x benchmark.

Biology, General and Psychology, General round out the largest cohorts, with Psychology, General graduates earning $70,123 at 1.4x benchmark. Kinesiology graduates earn $66,265, performing at 1.2x the national benchmark.

The concentration in Business — representing 27% of degrees — anchors the institution's earnings profile and contributes to outcomes that exceed those at many comparable private institutions.

Saint Mary's College of California's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a Lasallian Catholic liberal arts college with a practical career focus. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 148 graduates, followed by General Studies with 64 graduates, Biology, General, Psychology, General with 40 graduates, and Kinesiology with 37 graduates.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 600 students annually, the institution's strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional disciplines. The earnings leaders reflect the college's Business concentration.

Business/Commerce, General graduates earn median earnings of $80,262 four years after enrollment with 148 graduates, while Psychology, General delivers $70,123 with 40 graduates. General Studies earns $68,501 and Kinesiology reaches $66,265 with 37 graduates.

These programs represent direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes in accounting, finance, management, and related applied fields. The program portfolio emphasizes career readiness and employer alignment in the San Francisco Bay Area labor market.

Business represents 27% of graduates, with Social Sciences at 8% and Arts at 5%, creating a concentrated professional focus that supports strong early-career earnings. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these business-oriented program families align with regional labor-market demand in the Bay Area's professional services and financial sectors.