Who We Are

• A Catholic liberal arts college, rooted in the life and work of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Christian Brothers and the patron saint of teachers. We are Lasallian.

• We are committed to social justice, respect for all persons, and the power of education to transform lives.
• Saint Mary's was founded in 1863, one of the oldest schools in the West, but our feet are planted firmly in the 21st century on a foundation of strong values.
• At the heart of our curriculum is Collegiate Seminar, in which undergraduates read and discuss great works and learn how to listen.
• We operate on a 4-1-4 calendar schedule, which means that during January term students can travel to entirely different points on the globe, lend a hand to others, explore new ideas or take a courageous step towards personal change.

Our Community

• Our students are men and women from diverse backgrounds and approaches to life, ambitious, curious and not likely to settle for easy answers.
• They are drawn to service learning, not because it's a requirement, but because they know helping others makes their own lives richer and more interesting.
• Our graduate students bring their own unique experiences into the classroom and leave with the tools to transform the world in new ways.
• Our professors push the envelope, but aren't all wrapped up in themselves; they guide students to dig deep and challenge them to fine-tune their opinions.
• Our students confront civilization's big ideas, explore the world in Jan Term travel courses, learn to collaborate and discuss reasonably, and then translate these experiences into successful lives and careers — in the workplace, on the athletic field or in the Peace Corps.

Enter to Learn, Leave to Serve

That phrase, inscribed on the sculpture of Saint John Baptist de La Salle at the heart of our campus, inspires us and says a lot about who we are. La Salle had a big heart and a huge passion for the tranformative power of education. We follow in his footsteps.

The uncommon quality of a Saint Mary’s education makes this a unique place to live, work and study. But our real uniqueness is in the culture and character of our community. If you’d like to consider becoming part of that community, we invite you to apply.