College of Saint Mary

About College of Saint Mary

College of Saint Mary began as a two-year teachers’ college in Omaha in 1923. It moved to its present campus in 1955, awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in 1956, introduced master’s study in 2005, and added doctoral programs in 2007. The institution is now governed by an independent board that includes members of the Sisters of Mercy. Its Catholic and Mercy heritage remains visible in an educational mission centered on women, service, compassion, justice, and leadership, while the college states that it welcomes students of all backgrounds. The current institution is a private, comprehensive college rather than a department or affiliated training center. Its 2026–2027 catalog records active associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral offerings, and the Higher Learning Commission provides institutional accreditation. Admission AI’s supported degree-level categories therefore capture bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral study; the separately offered associate degrees and certificates fall outside those categories. CSM’s scale and focus are important considerations. The academic portfolio is concentrated in professionally oriented fields, especially health professions, alongside business, education, science, legal studies, psychology, and liberal-arts subjects. Students looking for a women-centered environment, direct access to Omaha organizations, and a campus where professional preparation and service are closely linked may find the model appealing. Those seeking a large research university, an extensive range of engineering disciplines, or a conventional coeducational undergraduate environment should compare alternatives carefully.

Undergraduate admission is conducted on a rolling basis for fall, spring, and summer entry. The 2026–2027 catalog says applicants may apply up to one year before their intended start and that decisions are generally communicated within two weeks, although limited-capacity programs and programs requiring interviews may take longer. Early submission is advisable because applicants are considered in the order their completed materials arrive. For full admission, the published university criteria include an unweighted high-school GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, completion of 16 high-school units, and, when prior college study applies, a cumulative college GPA of 2.5. Applicants below these thresholds may receive review through an alternate admission pathway. High-school and all college transcripts are required; official versions must be supplied by matriculation. ACT or SAT results are used for placement rather than identified as a general admission requirement, and students without scores may take a placement examination. Certain science, nursing, accelerated-entry, and graduate programs impose separate requirements. International applicants seeking F status must provide evaluated and translated educational records, financial documentation, passport-related materials, and evidence of English proficiency. The current catalog lists TOEFL iBT 80, a qualifying Test of Written English result, or completion of Level 9 at an ESL Language Center among its language routes. Graduate and professional applicants should follow their program’s separate process, prerequisites, deadlines, deposits, and interview requirements.

The 2026–2027 catalog presents more than 30 undergraduate majors as well as graduate and professional programs. Bachelor’s options span areas such as biology, business, chemistry, education, kinesiology and exercise science, legal studies, mathematics, medical laboratory science, nursing, psychology, and the humanities. Graduate study includes education, organizational leadership, kinesiology and exercise science, and physician assistant studies, while doctoral offerings include educational leadership, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Students should use the catalog’s degree pages to distinguish full majors from concentrations, minors, certificates, endorsements, and accelerated pathways. All undergraduates encounter the Mercy Core, which integrates communication, critical thinking, ethical leadership, service, and reflection on social responsibility. Academic support includes advising, tutoring, library and research assistance, technology resources, and career guidance. The Walk Tall Honors Program adds a cohort-based option involving advanced academics, leadership, research, and community engagement. Several health programs involve additional admission standards, clinical education, licensure expectations, and programmatic accreditation. These details can materially affect progression and should be checked at the program level rather than inferred from general university admission. In particular, the physician assistant program was placed on Accreditation-Probation by ARC-PA following its June 2025 meeting, with the next review identified for July 2027. This does not change CSM’s institutional accreditation, but applicants to that program should read the current disclosure and ask the program how the status could affect their cohort. The catalog remains the controlling source when program pages and other publications differ.

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.