St. Mary's University

About St. Mary's University

St. Mary's traces its origins to St. Mary's Institute, opened by members of the Society of Mary in San Antonio in 1852. The university identifies itself as the oldest Catholic university in Texas. Its present mission remains explicitly Catholic and Marianist, emphasizing intellectual development, ethical responsibility, service, justice and community. This identity is visible in academic expectations, campus ministry and service opportunities, but the university states that it welcomes students from all faiths and backgrounds. The institution operates as a private, nonprofit university and holds institutional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Its authorization extends across bachelor's, master's, J.D. and Ph.D. awards. This makes it a comprehensive degree-granting institution, although students should recognize that admission, curricula and professional accreditation can differ substantially among undergraduate, graduate and law programs. The university's educational model emphasizes small classes, interaction with faculty and integration of liberal studies with career preparation. Its academic portfolio covers arts and humanities, social sciences, business, science, engineering, education and law. Research, internships and community engagement are presented as ways to connect classroom study with professional and civic experience. For students comparing institutions, the clearest fit factors are its Marianist mission, relatively close-knit campus environment, San Antonio setting and access to both traditional academic disciplines and professionally oriented pathways.

Undergraduate first-year applications are accepted through the university's free application as well as the Common App, ApplyTexas and Coalition App. Applicants must provide an in-progress high-school transcript. They may submit ACT or SAT results; applicants who do not submit test scores must instead provide a personal statement. A recommendation and résumé are accepted as supporting materials but are not required on the current first-year page. The university uses rolling admission, but preferred dates still matter. For the currently advertised 2027-2028 entry cycle, the published timeline lists October 31 for specialty-scholarship consideration, December 15 as the priority admission and general merit-scholarship date, March 15 as the financial-assistance priority date and May 1 as the preferred enrollment-deposit deadline. Applicants should verify dates for their exact entry term before submitting because rolling review does not guarantee equal scholarship or aid availability throughout the cycle. International undergraduate applicants follow additional procedures. Official secondary-school records are required, and applicants with foreign university study need a course-by-course credential evaluation from an accepted NACES-member agency. The current international page lists minimum English-proficiency results of TOEFL iBT 80 or IELTS 6.0, with specified exemptions for qualifying U.S. education. Transfer, graduate, doctoral and law applicants should use their separate admissions routes because requirements are not interchangeable.

St. Mary's offers undergraduate and graduate study across arts, humanities, social sciences, business, science, engineering and professional fields. Its online program finder reports more than 75 programs, over 30 graduate and doctoral options, and a separate portfolio of certificates. Applicants should use the current program finder and catalog to confirm that a particular major, concentration or delivery format is accepting students, since availability and requirements can change by academic year. The academic structure supports conventional bachelor's and master's study as well as doctoral education and law. The School of Law offers its own professional programs and admissions processes. Selected combined-degree pathways allow undergraduates to begin graduate work before completing the bachelor's degree, while joint-degree arrangements connect certain graduate programs with the J.D. Qualified students in specified majors may also explore an accelerated bachelor-to-law route. These options can reduce duplicated coursework, but students should verify progression standards, sequencing and financial-aid consequences before committing. The curriculum is framed around both liberal education and professional preparation. The university highlights undergraduate and graduate research, internships and community engagement as applied-learning opportunities. Its comparatively focused environment may suit students who value faculty access and structured advising. Prospective students should compare the exact curriculum, licensure implications, specialized accreditation and experiential requirements of their intended program rather than relying on university-wide descriptions, especially in engineering, education, counseling, doctoral study and law.

Key Highlights

• Private, nonprofit Catholic and Marianist university founded in 1852
• Institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Authorized to award bachelor's, master's, J.D. and Ph.D. degrees
• Welcomes students of all faiths and backgrounds

Student Life & Environment

Campus life combines residential living, student organizations, recreation, athletics, faith-based activities and support services. The university reports more than 80 student organizations, giving students options connected to academic interests, culture, service, leadership, recreation and professional preparation. Fraternity and sorority life, intramural sports and student-run programming provide additional ways to participate. St. Mary's competes in NCAA Division II athletics as a member of the Lone Star Conference. Campus recreation and varsity esports broaden the options for students who want structured competition or informal activity. The Catholic and Marianist character is visible through Mass, confession, retreats, ministry and service opportunities, while participation is not limited to Catholic students. Housing is available in multiple residence halls with different room and bathroom configurations. A material planning rule applies to new undergraduates whose permanent address is outside Bexar County: the university states that they must live on campus. Students should confirm any exemption procedure directly with Residence Life before arranging off-campus housing. Support services include health care, counseling, accessibility services, tutoring or peer coaching, international-student support and career development. The scale and mission create an intentionally community-oriented experience, though students seeking a highly secular or very large residential environment should assess fit through a campus visit.

Location & Surroundings

St. Mary's is located at One Camino Santa Maria on San Antonio's West Side, a short trip from the city's downtown core. San Antonio offers museums, historic districts, arts venues, restaurants and major cultural events, giving students access to experiences beyond campus. The university specifically points to downtown, the King William Historic District and the Blue Star Arts Complex as nearby cultural destinations. The location can support internships, service learning and professional exploration in a large metropolitan economy. Career planning may benefit from the city's mix of health care, government, education, tourism, business and nonprofit activity, although students should investigate opportunities tied to their particular field rather than assume citywide access. Daily mobility deserves practical attention. Prospective residents and commuters should assess travel time, parking costs, public-transport options and whether they will need a car for internships or off-campus work. The residential campus provides dining, activities and core student services, reducing the need for some routine trips. Students deciding between campus and private housing should also account for the university's residency requirement for qualifying new undergraduates.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026-2027, full-time undergraduate tuition covering 12 to 18 credit hours is $19,202 per semester. Required undergraduate charges listed separately include a $50 academic assessment fee, a $468 full-time student-services fee, a $209 full-time information-services fee and a $12 undergraduate study-abroad grant fee per semester. Students should budget beyond tuition for housing, meals, books, transportation, health insurance where applicable, parking and personal expenses. Published 2026-2027 residence-hall prices vary by building and room type. Semester rates shown on the official fee page range from $3,229 for a double room in Treadaway Hall to $4,830 for listed single-room options in Bordeaux or Cremer halls. Residential meal plans are separately priced at $2,384 or $2,718 per semester. These figures apply from August 1, 2026, through July 31, 2027; graduate, Ph.D. and law tuition use different schedules. First-year applicants are encouraged to submit the FAFSA, and the admission page lists March 15 as the financial-assistance priority date for the advertised cycle. Families should use the university's net-price tools and compare an individualized aid offer rather than treating sticker price as expected net cost. Career services include individual coaching, résumé assistance, career exploration, job fairs and access to the Rattler Careers platform. Internships, research, professional organizations and community engagement can add practical experience, but outcomes will vary by program and student choices; the university does not provide current program-level salary or placement results on the sources used here.