College of Saint Benedict vs Saint Mary's College

College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint Mary's College (SMC) are two distinct institutions with unique offerings, despite their close proximity and shared history. CSB, a women's college, boasts a higher acceptance rate (78%) compared to SMC's 70%. Both colleges excel in liberal arts education, but CSB is known for its strength in nursing, while SMC emphasizes business and education. CSB's student body is predominantly female (100%), while SMC has a more balanced gender ratio (49% female, 51% male). With similar graduation rates hovering around 80%, both colleges ensure their students are well-prepared for their future endeavors. To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison table highlighting key differences between CSB and SMC. Explore the table to discover which college aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
College of Saint Benedict logo

College of Saint Benedict

Saint Mary's College logo

Saint Mary's College

Overview

Location Saint Joseph, Minnesota Notre Dame, Indiana
Campus setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 85.0% 81.0%
Common app member No Yes
Religious affiliation Catholic Catholic

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.8% 83.1%
Application fees
SAT range 1110 - 1220 1055 - 1265
ACT range 20 - 27 22 - 30
Students submitting SAT score 5.0% 41.0%
Students submitting ACT score 53.0% 26.0%
Total number of applicants 1,705 2,351
Total number of admissions given out 1,565 1,953
Admitted students who chose to enroll 389 375
Yield rate 24.9% 19.2%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $64,600 $60,160
Average net price $28,269 $27,686
Tuition $48,990 $47,000
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $5,744

Meal plan: $5,830
$13,120
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $34,926
100.0%
Average amount $34,350
Students receiving federal student loan 70.0%
Average amount $5,285
64.0%
Average amount $5,152
Students taking out private loans 23.0%
Average amount $14,950
13.0%
Average amount $16,919

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,542
Men 0.0% Women 100.0%
1,402
Men 0.2% Women 99.8%
Graduate students 15
Men 0.0% Women 100.0%
125
Men 6.4% Women 93.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 13.9% 63.7%
International students 2.8% 0.7%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Midsize Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,657 1,274
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Minnesota Texas Wisconsin Illinois California Indiana Illinois Michigan Ohio Texas

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Health Professions
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Business
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Health Professions
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Mathematics and Statistics
  • Education
  • Social Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 11:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Higher Learning Commission Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 76.7% 74.5%
Dropout rate 4.2% 10.7%
Transferred out 19.1% 14.8%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $65,506
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $64,967
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $57,133
  • Year 2: $58,673
  • Year 3: $63,835
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,618
  • Year 2: $51,607
  • Year 3: $60,918
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,526
  • Year 2: $41,193
  • Year 3: $50,148
Nutrition Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $29,764
  • Year 2: $38,906
  • Year 3: $47,379
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $39,234
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $41,921
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,557
  • Year 2: $27,126
  • Year 3: $40,533
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,176
  • Year 2: $34,298
  • Year 3: $38,443
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,663
  • Year 2: $31,127
  • Year 3: $37,417
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,025
  • Year 2: $31,133
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,091
  • Year 2: $53,537
  • Year 3: $71,322
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,921
  • Year 2: $59,599
  • Year 3: $65,939
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,943
  • Year 2: $41,342
  • Year 3: $50,481
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,834
  • Year 2: $40,737
  • Year 3: $41,035
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,925
  • Year 3: N/A
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,367
  • Year 2: $24,421
  • Year 3: N/A
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,220
  • Year 2: $26,896
  • Year 3: N/A
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $45,715
  • Year 3: N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $32,382
  • Year 3: N/A
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,752
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A

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