A tight-knit community: SMC students value the sense of care from fellow Gaels on campus—students, faculty, and staff / Photo by Sofia Mastroianni
The Princeton Review Names Saint Mary’s One of the Nation’s Best Colleges for 2027
SMC is featured in The Best 392 Colleges and comes recommended for students looking for a “best fit.” Saint Mary’s is also named a “Best West” college and as a Green School. And earns recognition in lists from Time, Newsweek, and Money magazine.
Saint Mary’s College of California is one of the nation’s academically best undergraduate institutions, according to The Princeton Review. In The Best 392 Colleges: 2027 Edition, released this month, the educational services company profiles SMC and recommends it for students looking for a “best fit” in colleges. The organization also includes Saint Mary’s, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, in the “Best West” listing of colleges by region. And it highlights SMC in the 2027 edition of The Princeton Review Guide to Green Schools.
The Best 392 Colleges is based on a national survey of some 172,000 students and includes only about 14% of the 2,800 four-year colleges in the United States. The guide also shares what students have to say about where they study.
“What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it reflects the experiences of our students,” says Roger J. Thompson, President of Saint Mary’s. “They describe a Saint Mary’s education defined by outstanding faculty, meaningful relationships, and a community deeply invested in their success. That is the kind of education we strive to provide—one that prepares students not only for what comes next, but to imagine what might be possible.”
Where Ideas Meet the World
As the guide notes, SMC students appreciate the fact that the student-focused environment means “amazing relationships with professors thanks to the small classroom sizes.” Faculty and staff “make sure that you know everything that you need to prepare you for life,” are “always accessible for meetings and office hours because they want their students to succeed,” and are "an incredible resource for internships, grad school, [and] jobs."
“That is the kind of education we strive to provide—one that prepares students not only for what comes next, but to imagine what might be possible.”
—Roger J. Thompson, President
One signature aspect of Saint Mary’s rich academic offerings that The Princeton Review highlights is Collegiate Seminar, a series of courses in which undergraduates “read, dissect, discuss, and live the ideas” that shape foundational and contemporary works from across the centuries and around the globe. This foundation of “interesting texts...allows for students to bring in real-world experiences,” and encourages the “student-based discussions rather than professor lectures” that are a key aspect of a SMC education.
The guide gives a shout-out to January Term as well—for many SMC students, one of the most memorable parts of their experience. In a month-long course, students take a deep dive into one single topic—on campus or in one of many locations around the world.
Undergrads can also choose from one of many robust study-abroad programs to gain valuable experience (and college credit) while immersed in a different culture. Students also have access to a plethora of academic support services, including tutoring, mental health counseling, and the Center for Writing Across the Curriculum.
When it comes to sustainability, Saint Mary’s has led the conversation for Lasallian universities around the world—those founded by the Christian Brothers—on how to leverage the global community to advance sustainability initiatives. SMC has also earned recognition in recent years as a local “sustainability hero” and earned national accolades for its commitment to sustainable food and dining practices.
Big School Spirit and Tight-Knit Community
One of the ways Saint Mary’s offers big-school energy in a tight-knit community is through a host of Division I sports. “Basketball is huge here,” notes one student. Indeed, the Gaels Men’s Basketball team has won the West Coast Conference title four years in a row and regularly competes in the NCAA Tournament.
And it’s not only basketball. Both Softball and Baseball made it to the NCAA Regional Finals in 2026. With ongoing stellar play on the court and the fields, this year Saint Mary’s became the only Division I school in the country to win back-to-back conference championships in Men’s Basketball, Softball, and Baseball.
Also note that last season Women’s Soccer garnered Coach of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year for the conference. And when it comes to Men’s Rugby, the Gaels are a perennial contender for the national championship.
New Opportunities, Impressive Academics
Along with adding new academic programs over the past couple of years—including a new major in Public Health and a bachelor’s program in Nursing—Saint Mary’s has been expanding opportunities for students in sports and activities. A new Aquatics program begins competition this year, with Swimming and Water Polo for both women and men. And expanded Spirit Team and Pep Band both open the programs to more students and bring more verve to game days.
What’s also clear in the guide: That sense of care defines who Saint Mary’s students are, too. “Communal, friendly, and intimate” are words students use to describe the nature of SMC—with the College providing active support for student groups.
TIME Magazine’s Inaugural “America’s Best Colleges”
You’ll find Saint Mary’s in the inaugural edition of Time magazine’s “America’s Best Colleges 2026–2027,” released this week. Developed in conjunction with survey partner Statista, the rankings are based on several factors, including student outcomes—which comprise graduation rate and graduates’ earnings; and learning environment, which includes student-to-faculty ratio (an enviable 10 to 1 at Saint Mary’s) and diversity of the campus community.
Newsweek: SMC is a Best College for Women
Saint Mary’s earns a place on the inaugural list of America’s Best Colleges for Women 2026, published by Newsweek earlier this year. SMC lands in the top 15% nationally among the more than 750 colleges and universities included. The rankings give Saint Mary’s particularly high marks for leadership and safety.
Money Magazine Best Colleges
Saint Mary’s garners a spot among “America’s Best Colleges 2026,” according to Money magazine. The rankings look at colleges’ quality of education, affordability, and student outcomes—critical factors for many students and families. Money’s latest Best Colleges is the result of an analysis of four-year colleges, taking into account dozens of data points.
