College of Saint Mary

Key Highlights

• Private nonprofit Catholic women’s college governed by an independent board
• Founded in Omaha in 1923 and located on its present campus since 1955
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Current catalog documents bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study

Student Life & Environment

Student life is organized around a compact Omaha campus and a women-centered community. CSM advertises more than 20 clubs and activities, including Student Senate, Latinas Empowering Others, Rainbow Alliance, STEMinists, the Student Nurses Association, occupational- and physical-therapy groups, Spanish Club, and a student literary journal. Leadership programs and organization roles give students structured ways to develop facilitation, communication, and planning skills. On-campus accommodation includes conventional residence-hall options and specialized living-and-learning communities. The Mothers Living & Learning program is designed for single mothers living with their children, while the Women in Sports Leadership community connects housing with interests in athletics, coaching, sports management, and leadership. Housing eligibility and residency rules should be checked in the current catalog and residence-life materials because they vary by student level and personal circumstances. The Lied Fitness Center and Fieldhouse provides courts, fitness and strength space, a pool, an indoor track, a golf simulator, and a human-performance laboratory. Faith and service opportunities reflect the college’s Catholic and Mercy identity, but CSM describes the community as open to people of all backgrounds. Counseling, wellness services, student-success advising, campus safety, dining, and residence-life staff form the main support network. Students wanting a large fraternity-and-sorority scene or major-university social scale should recognize that CSM offers a smaller, more locally focused experience.

Location & Surroundings

College of Saint Mary’s address is 7000 Mercy Road in Omaha. The campus sits near 72nd Street, north of Interstate 80 and approximately 15 minutes southwest of downtown according to the current catalog. It is adjacent to the University of Nebraska Omaha and within walking distance of Aksarben Village, a mixed-use district with restaurants, shops, public space, and seasonal events. Omaha’s metropolitan setting gives students access to healthcare systems, schools, businesses, nonprofits, arts organizations, and other potential sites for internships, service, clinical learning, and employment. That access is especially relevant to CSM’s healthcare, education, business, and community-service orientation. Downtown cultural destinations and major attractions are not on the immediate campus, so students should consider transportation needs when planning off-campus work or recreation. The campus itself offers a more contained environment than its urban surroundings might suggest, with academic buildings, residences, recreation facilities, and green space grouped together. Prospective students should visit both the campus and nearby neighborhoods to judge commuting, housing, and daily-life options rather than assuming a traditional downtown setting.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, CSM publishes full-time undergraduate tuition of $13,909 per semester for students taking at least 12 credits. It also lists a $315 technology fee and $105 university fee per term. Standard double-room housing with board in Lozier or Stevens is listed at $5,155 per semester; a private Lozier room is $5,819, subject to restrictions. Program fees apply in some areas, including nursing. These are published charges rather than a personalized net price, and graduate, certificate, summer, and special-rate programs use different schedules. Financial aid can change the amount a student actually pays. CSM states that all accepted full-time undergraduates are automatically considered for a renewable merit scholarship and publishes an annual merit range of $12,000 to $17,000. Need-based institutional aid requires the FAFSA, and eligibility, renewal rules, and restrictions should be confirmed in the final award notice. International students must document resources sufficient to cover remaining tuition and living costs after institutional awards. Career Services works with Student Success Advising on career exploration, résumés, interviews, job-search strategy, internships, employer connections, graduate-school planning, and preparation for licensure or employment. CSM reports a 61% undergraduate graduation rate from IPEDS and an 83% first-year freshman retention rate from its Fall 2025 census. These institution-wide figures do not predict individual outcomes; applicants to licensed professions should examine the separately published program completion, licensure-pass, and employment data.