Saint Mary's College of California
Saint Mary's College of California — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Saint Mary's College of California at a Glance
Saint Mary's College of California is a private Catholic college in Moraga, California, United States. Established in 1863, it is administered by the De La Salle Brothers. The college offers undergraduate and graduate programs with a total student count at under 4,000 as of 2018.
1863
163 years old
$215M
$215.0 million (2021)
2,736
1,955 undergrad · 781 grad
420 acres
Identity
Is Saint Mary's College of California Worth It?
Saint Mary's College of California offers moderate value at $30,378/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $78,812, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.5 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 70% graduation rate means roughly 30% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Saint Mary's College of California compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in CA
Ranked #27 of 77 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dominican University | 75 | $11,745 | $60,327 |
| #2 | Regis University | 60 | $18,397 | $72,105 |
| #3 | Pacific Lutheran University | 60 | $19,589 | $66,990 |
| #4 | University of Portland | 59 | $28,210 | $82,804 |
| #5 | Valparaiso University | 58 | $18,578 | $63,191 |
| #6 | Saint Johns University | 56 | $25,672 | $76,786 |
| #27 | Saint Mary's College of California | 45 | $30,378 | $78,812 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Saint Mary's College of California's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 6 in CA.
Best Programs at Saint Mary's College of California
The highest-earning program at Saint Mary's College of California is Accounting and Related Services at $60,300/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Health and Physical Education/Fitness at $27,800/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Saint Mary's College of California earns $60,300, while a Health and Physical Education/Fitness graduate earns $27,800. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $25,689 in median debt vs. $26,000 for Health and Physical Education/Fitness.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $30,378/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $60,300 | $60,300 | $25,689 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $50,900 | $50,900 | $24,250 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $41,000 | $41,000 | $26,500 |
| Economics | $39,500 | $39,500 | $21,625 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $35,900 | $35,900 | $25,000 |
| Biology, General | $28,700 | $28,700 | $27,000 |
| Psychology, General | $27,900 | $27,900 | $23,125 |
| Health and Physical Education/Fitness | $27,800 | $27,800 | $26,000 |
Similar Colleges in CA
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Moraga, CA
- Student Body
- 1,947 students
- Admission Rate
- 87%
- Graduation Rate
- 70%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $30,378
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $78,812
- Median Student Debt
- $23,691