
Lacey, WAprivate nonprofitstmartin.edu
Admit rate has ranged 72%–96% 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.
Saint Martin's University is a small, Benedictine Catholic liberal arts university in Lacey, Washington, that defines itself by its tight-knit, welcoming community and a practical, hands-on approach to education. It's a place where the interaction of faith, reason, and service is a lived principle, not just a motto, attracting a diverse student body into a slate of career-focused majors. With an accessible admissions profile and a strong emphasis on financial aid, it serves as a launchpad for first-generation and Pell Grant-eligible students seeking a supportive path to a solid return on investment.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
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.
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Campus & location
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.
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.
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.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Saint Martin's operates with an accessible admissions process, making it a realistic target for a broad range of students. The university's is consistently reported around 90%, reflecting a moderately selective to inclusive approach. For the admitted class, the middle 50% SAT score range is 1025–1230. The university does not appear to offer a binding Early Decision program, and sources referencing early admission discuss it only in a general, definitional context. While the is the definitive source for understanding how the university weighs various application factors—including whether it considers demonstrated interest—the specific CDS documents provided do not contain the C7 factor importance grid needed to confirm its policy. Applicants should consult the most recent Common Data Set available from the university's Institutional Research office for those details.
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.
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.
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The academic experience at Saint Martin's is built on a liberal arts foundation but is distinctly geared toward professional preparation. The university describes its students as "scholars, scientists, philosophers and artists" who are prepared for successful lives through undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs. According to U.S. News, the most popular majors cluster in Health Professions and Related Programs and Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, indicating a student body focused on direct career pathways. The curriculum spans the liberal arts, business, education, and engineering, suggesting an interdisciplinary environment where practical skills are developed within a broader ethical and intellectual framework. The university's small size fosters a dedicated faculty and close-knit learning environment, though sources note there are areas for academic growth alongside its strengths.
Life at Saint Martin's is defined by an intentionally close, active, and welcoming community. The university takes pride in its "tight-knit and vibrant" atmosphere, which students on social media describe as a very welcoming place with a "diverse roster of students from so many different backgrounds and cultures." This community is activated through a robust slate of over 40 student clubs, an active student government, and an engaging program board managed by the Office of Campus Life. The university's Benedictine Catholic heritage informs campus culture through the stated mission of helping "students learn to make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of others through the interaction of faith, reason, and service." It's a campus where involvement is accessible and diversity is celebrated as part of the fabric of daily life.
Outcomes data for Saint Martin's shows a university serving many students who are the first in their families to attend college, with a graduation profile that reflects both challenge and success. The six-year graduation rate is reported variably across sources, with U.S. News noting a rate of 58% overall, but a significantly lower rate of 38% for students who received a Pell Grant. An internal student achievement report for a specific cohort showed a 57% six-year graduation rate. For those who graduate, the financial payoff is clear. According to Niche, median earnings five years after graduation are $65,190, a strong figure that suggests the career-focused majors deliver on their promise. The College Scorecard also reports a graduation rate and typical earnings, aligning with the pattern of solid post-graduate outcomes for completers.
Saint Martin's is a tuition-driven institution that aggressively uses institutional aid to make attendance possible. The university awards over $20 million in scholarships annually, with awards ranging from $100 to full tuition; for example, a GPA of 3.9 to 4.0 can merit a $30,000 scholarship. This results in a very high percentage of students receiving aid—99% of full-time beginning undergraduates get grant or scholarship assistance, and 84% of undergraduates receive financial aid overall, with 40% benefiting from federal Pell Grants. The —the average cost after aid—is reported by various sources, though the figures differ. U.S. News lists it at $31,026, while BigFuture reports $22,779. The university provides a Net Price Calculator for personalized estimates. While the school meets significant need through grants, the sources provided do not indicate it has a formal "no-loan" policy where loans are eliminated from aid packages for all qualifying students; federal loans remain a common component of aid awards, with an average annual federal loan amount of $5,816.
Saint Martin's stands out for its potent combination of a supportive, values-based community and a pragmatically focused curriculum. It is not a university of cutthroat competition or ivory-tower abstraction; it's a place where students, Pell Grant recipients, and those seeking a clear path to a profession can find their footing. The Benedictine ethos of community, service, and the integration of faith and reason creates a distinctive campus culture that is actively welcoming. This is amplified by the sheer density of student life—over 40 clubs in a small population means there's a niche for everyone and leadership opportunities abound. Academically, it leans into its strengths in health professions and business, ensuring graduates are ready for the workforce, which is borne out by strong median earnings five years out. In essence, Saint Martin's offers the close-knit support of a small liberal arts college with the career-oriented focus of a regional comprehensive university, all within a framework that intentionally nurtures the whole person.