How to get into St. Mary's College of Maryland
How to get into St. Mary's: Maryland's public honors college where in-state tuition meets liberal arts identity
68.6%
Acceptance rate
$15,298
In-state cost
$31,374
Out-of-state cost
What makes St. Mary's College of Maryland admissions different
St. Mary's College of Maryland is the state's designated public honors college — a small (~1,600 undergrad) residential liberal arts college on a riverside campus in southern Maryland. St. Mary's admits around 69% of applicants. The school's distinctive position is as a public honors college (state-funded, lower tuition than peer private liberal arts colleges) with a residential liberal arts curriculum, an Honors College within the college for the next tier of high-achieving students, and a respected sailing program.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App by St. Mary's deadlines. Early Action is non-binding and gives the earliest decision plus first consideration for merit aid.
- 2.
Maryland residents: confirm in-state tuition eligibility. St. Mary's is meaningfully cheaper for Maryland residents and is one of the best in-state liberal arts values in the country.
- 3.
Apply to the Honors College at St. Mary's through its separate application or invitation. Honors students get a four-year curriculum with smaller seminars and dedicated advising.
- 4.
Write essays that engage with St. Mary's specific identity — the public-honors-college mission, the St. Mary's Project (a senior capstone required for all students), the residential community on the St. Mary's River.
- 5.
Out-of-state applicants: run the net price calculator. OOS sticker is moderate by liberal arts standards but in-state remains the better value.
- 6.
Schedule a campus visit. The riverside setting is genuinely part of the pitch and a fit check.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Confusing St. Mary's College of Maryland with St. Mary's University in San Antonio, St. Mary's College in Indiana, or other 'St. Mary's' colleges — they are all different schools.
- ✕
Treating St. Mary's as just a small liberal arts college without engaging with its public honors mission.
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Missing Early Action and the priority scholarship pool.
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Skipping the Honors College application when the profile fits.
The specifics for St. Mary's College of Maryland
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Public honors college designation ↗
Designated by the State of Maryland as the state's public honors college, with state-funded support for a residential liberal arts curriculum at lower tuition than peer privates.
St. Mary's Project (senior capstone)
All students complete a substantial senior capstone — a year-long independent research project, creative work, or thesis — distinctive among public universities.
Riverside campus and sailing program
The campus sits on the St. Mary's River, supporting one of the most established collegiate sailing programs in the country and an environmental field-research orientation.
What graduates actually do
St. Mary's College of Maryland is the state's designated public honors college, sending graduates into public service, environmental policy, education, and graduate programs at high rates. The St. Mary's River and Chesapeake Bay setting drives strong environmental science and marine biology placement, and DC proximity feeds federal agency and nonprofit hiring.
Notable alumni
- James Wilson — Statesman (historical — Founding Father)
- Susan Allen Toth — Authorship
Transfer pathway
St. Mary's accepts transfers via the Maryland Transfer Advantage Program, which articulates with all Maryland community colleges including the College of Southern Maryland, Anne Arundel Community College, and Prince George's Community College. Maryland AA graduates with a 2.5+ GPA are guaranteed admission to a USM/Maryland public institution, though St. Mary's specific admission remains competitive.
Articulation partners
College of Southern Maryland · Anne Arundel Community College · Prince George's Community College · Montgomery College
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you're a Maryland resident with a B+ transcript and an interest in a small residential liberal arts experience, St. Mary's is a strong fit and a major in-state value. Out-of-state applicants at similar profiles can also get in and find St. Mary's affordable. The St. Mary's Project (senior capstone) is the distinguishing academic feature — applicants who actively want a thesis-based capstone do better than those who don't.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.