"Saint Mary’s always encourages us to think outside-the-box."
Click for frequently asked questions for transfer students and international students.
First-Year Applicant FAQs
May I apply to Saint Mary’s through the Early Decision program?
How do I set up a visit to Saint Mary’s College?
Are interviews required for admission to Saint Mary’s?
What standardized test scores will I need to submit to Saint Mary’s?
Does Saint Mary’s offer any scholarships?
Does Saint Mary’s have pre-med, pre-vet, or pre-law majors?
Does Saint Mary’s offer Engineering?
What is Saint Mary’s relationship with the University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College?
What is your average class size? How about your student-to-faculty ratio?
How far is Saint Mary’s from Chicago?
Do you have to be Catholic to attend Saint Mary’s?
Why should I attend an all-women’s college?
Are Saint Mary's varsity athletes allowed to accept and utilize outside scholarships?
First-Year Applicant FAQs
Q. What are the deadlines for first-year students to submit application materials, and when will I be notified of a decision?
A. Priority Deadlines for first-year applicants:
- Early Decision Applicants: November 15; notification is guaranteed by mid-December if your application is completed by November 20.
- Regular Decision Applicants: February 15 ; notification is rolling every 2-4 weeks and will start as early as November.
Q. May I apply to Saint Mary’s through the Early Decision program?
A. Absolutely, if Saint Mary's College is your first choice. The deadline for Early Decision applications is November 15th. If you are accepted under the Early Decision guidelines, you agree to withdraw all applications submitted to other colleges and universities if admitted to Saint Mary’s. Early Decision students receive their admission decisions by the end of December.
Q. How do I set up a visit to Saint Mary’s College?
A. Saint Mary's College will be your "home" for the next four years, so we encourage you to get to know the campus and the college community.
Office of Admission Hours (September through May):
- 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday
- 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, Saturdays
- 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Notre Dame Football Saturdays
Office of Admission Hours (May through August)
- 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday
To set up a campus visit, register here, email our Campus Visit Coordinator at campusvisit@saintmarys.edu, or call (574) 284-4587 or (800) 551-7621.
To check out upcoming campus events, click here.
Q. Are interviews required for admission to Saint Mary’s?
A. No, we don’t require an interview. We do strongly encourage that you visit Saint Mary’s and meet for an individual appointment with your admission counselor. You’ll be able to get all your questions answered, and your counselor will be able to put a face with a name, which can only benefit you!
Q. What standardized test scores will I need to submit to Saint Mary’s?
A. We require either the ACT or SAT for first-year students unless students are applying test optional. We will accept your self-reported test scores off the application for scholarship and admission consideration. However, you will be required to send us your official scores before you're able to enroll at Saint Mary's. So make sure you report your scores accurately! If you take either exam more than once, we’ll superscore the subsections to recalculate your best score. If you take both tests, we will use the score for admission and merit scholarships that gives you the best advantage.
International applicants are still required to submit official test scores for admission and scholarship consideration.
Saint Mary's code for the SAT is 1702 and for the ACT the code is 1244.
Q. Does Saint Mary’s offer any scholarships?
A. We do! You’ll automatically be considered for merit-based scholarships when you apply for admission - no additional application or essay required. And even better news -- we’ll notify you of your merit award in your acceptance letter! Learn more about these awards here.
Q. Does Saint Mary’s have pre-med, pre-vet, or pre-law majors?
A. We offer pre-professional programs in the following areas: Law, Dentistry, Medicine, Veterinary, Occupational Therapy, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant Studies, other allied health fields. If you are in any of these programs, you will have access to an advisor who will work to help you best prepare for continuing your education in your desired field.
Q. Does Saint Mary’s offer Engineering?
A. We do! We offer a dual degree program in engineering with the University of Notre Dame. In this five-year program, you can earn a bachelor’s degree from Saint Mary’s in just about any major and a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering with a focus in chemical, computer science, electrical, environmental earth sciences, or mechanical engineering from Notre Dame. To find out more, click here.
Q. What is Saint Mary’s relationship with the University of Notre Dame and Holy Cross College?
A. Saint Mary's, Notre Dame and Holy Cross College enjoy a distinctive relationship that provides you with the exciting atmosphere of a large, comprehensive university and tri-campus community. You'll have Saint Mary's, Holy Cross’ and Notre Dame's legendary traditions while enjoying Saint Mary's academic excellence.
- Join the marching band or other cultural activities
- Participate in club sports
- Take Notre Dame classes
- Attend sporting events such as Notre Dame Fighting Irish football games
- Enjoy dances and other social activities
Saint Mary's also has a number of combined academic programs with Notre Dame, including our Dual Engineering Program and four bachelor's to master's accelerated programs in Finance, Non-Profit Administration, Accounting and Management.
Q. What is your average class size? How about your student-to-faculty ratio?
A. Average class size is 18 and the student-to-faculty ratio is 10:1.
Q. How far is Saint Mary’s from Chicago?
A. Saint Mary’s is about 90 miles from the city of Chicago (about 1.5 hours). We offer a variety of public transportation options including airport shuttles to Chicago’s Midway and O’Hare airports from the University of Notre Dame and the South Shore train line from the South Bend International Airport.
Q. Do you have to be Catholic to attend Saint Mary’s?
A. No. While Saint Mary’s is a Catholic college, and was funded and is still sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, students from all faith backgrounds are admitted to the College.
Q. Why should I attend a women’s college?
A. Lots of reasons! First, there are a number of statistics that show increased success for women who attend women’s colleges compared to those who studied in institutions with men and women. Check out this page for more information. Some students may worry that attending a women’s college means they will not have a co-ed social life, but that’s simply not true at Saint Mary’s. In fact, our students experience the best of both worlds. There are more than 510 different student clubs and organizations to choose from between Saint Mary's and Notre Dame (which is right across the street), and students are free to participate in activities and events on both campuses. So don’t worry – when you want to, you will still be able to meet boys!
Q. Will I receive credit for my IB diploma/certificates, A-levels, Advanced Placement courses, Abitur, French Baccalaureate, etc.?
A. Yes. Decisions about credit are based on the subject areas and levels of achievement on the exams.
Q. Are Saint Mary's varsity athletes allowed to accept and utilize outside scholarships?
A. Per NCAA Division III regulations, students who intend on playing varsity sports at Saint Mary's are precluded from receiving any scholarships based on athletic participation, ability, or leadership in any sport which is also an NCAA sport. Varsity athletes should check with the Financial Aid Office regarding any outside scholarships or awards to ensure the terms of the scholarship will not interfere with the student's ability to participate in varsity athletics.