Admit rate has ranged 38%–65% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
College of Saint Mary in Omaha, Nebraska, is a small, women-focused Catholic institution with a surprisingly accessible admissions process (45% acceptance rate) and a pragmatic academic bent—strong in nursing, business, and education. Its tight-knit campus fosters a supportive, if quiet, community where nearly 40% of students live on-site, and graduates earn median salaries around $59,000 within six years.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
445
In-state tuition
$24,510
Out-of-state tuition
$24,510
Location
Omaha, NE
Acceptance Rate
45%
Notable Programs
Nursing, Business, Education
Student-Faculty Ratio
10:1
4-Year Graduation Rate
51%
Median Early-Career Salary
$59,339
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$54,338
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.3×
Median debt at graduation
$24,250
Graduation rate
61%
First-year retention
80%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
63%
Pell (lower-income) share
49%
First-generation share
26%
Endowment / student
$72,102
Financial health
2.4 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$63,692
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$36,560
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
0
Per 1,000 students
0.00
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
80
Summer high
85°F
Winter low
19°F
Annual rain
30.2"
Annual snow
22.8"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
31
Scholarly works
271
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at College of Saint Mary?
College of Saint Mary's acceptance rate is approximately 45% (Omaha, NE), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does College of Saint Mary cost?
At College of Saint Mary, the average net price (after aid) is about $16,590 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend College of Saint Mary?
College of Saint Mary enrolls approximately 445 undergraduate students.
Where is College of Saint Mary located?
College of Saint Mary is located in Omaha, NE.
Admissions
With a 45% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants., College of Saint Mary is selective but far from cutthroat—about half of admitted first-years boast SAT scores between 18-26 ACT or equivalent. Nearly half (47%) of enrollees have high school GPAs of 3.91 or above, though the middle 50% spans a broader 3.25-3.74 range. Transfer students find a welcoming pathway, and Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. policies soften barriers for strong academic performers without standout scores.
CSM leans into career-ready programs, with business (15 majors) and health sciences dominating the curriculum. The nursing program reports strong licensure pass rates, while education tracks emphasize hands-on training in child development. Small classes—averaging under 20 students—and a 10:1 student-faculty ratio ensure close mentorship. General education requirements stress quantitative skills and modern languages, though the vibe is more pragmatic than theoretical.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
This commuter-heavy campus (61% live off-site) buzzes modestly, with student-led BBQs and pool parties filling the social calendar. Housing options are limited but foster community—think shared kitchens and lounges rather than Greek life. The Centers for Culture and Social Action organize service opportunities and identity-based programming, while NCAA Division II athletics (basketball, volleyball) draw modest crowds. It’s the kind of place where ‘quiet’ gets called out in reviews, but tight friendships form over late-night study sessions.
CSM’s 51% four-year graduation rate outpaces many regional peers, with nursing and business grads typically landing jobs in Omaha’s healthcare and corporate sectors. Median earnings hit $59,339 within six years—solid for a liberal arts-heavy institution. The college touts high teacher-licensure pass rates and a 59% overall graduation rate (including transfers), though alumni salaries skew lower than national benchmarks for selective private colleges.
At $20,200 Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. (after aid), CSM undercuts many private colleges, with merit scholarships ranging $12,000-$17,000 annually for top students. Nearly all attendees receive some aid, including Pell Grants and work-study. The financial aid office aggressively packages grants to reduce loan dependence—a selling point for First-generation (first-gen)A student who would be the first in their immediate family to earn a four-year college degree. Many colleges consider this in context. and low-income students. Still, the sticker price ($35,000+ tuition) requires careful planning, especially for commuters balancing jobs and coursework.
CSM carves a niche as a women’s college that prioritizes accessibility without sacrificing rigor—its nursing grads outperform state averages, while business majors tap Omaha’s Fortune 500 scene. The vibe is ‘supportive hustle’: professors know students by name, internships are baked into curricula, and the 10:1 faculty ratio means no one slips through cracks. It’s not for those craving Big Ten football or avant-garde arts, but as a launchpad for healthcare and business careers in the Heartland, few rivals match its ROI.
College of Saint Mary logo · sourceCollege of Saint Mary - Wikipedia · sourceCollege of Saint Mary | College of Distinction · sourceCollege of St. Mary in Omaha | Catholic University · source
