Scholarships are available to students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. The scholarships can range from $2,000 to full tuition per academic year. Undergraduate scholarships are awarded on a need and merit basis and many are renewed yearly.
Merit Scholarships | Lasallian Leadership Award | Alumni Legacy Scholarship | Departmental Scholarships | Other Saint Mary's Scholarships
Scholarships are determined and awarded at the time of acceptance, no additional forms are required to be considered for these merit-based scholarships. Your merit-based scholarship will be automatically applied to each of your four years of consecutive full-time undergraduate study at Saint Mary's College.
Merit-based scholarships are contingent upon successful academic progress while enrolled at Saint Mary's College. These amounts may be combined with other Saint Mary's College scholarships, possible additional need-based aid for which students might qualify.
A Note about Merit-Based Scholarships: The total of merit-based scholarships cannot exceed Saint Mary's College tuition. Merit-based awards are applied towards any demonstrated need-based aid eligibility. Students who receive the combination of the Presidential and Lasallian Leadership scholarships may compete for any other merit awards; the maximum number of merit awards a student may receive is three. If the combination of merit scholarships and Cal Grant or the Tuition Exchange award exceeds tuition, the merit-based scholarship will be reduced.
Scholarships are determined and awarded at the time of acceptance, no additional forms are required to be considered for this scholarship. The scholarship will automatically be applied to each of your four years of consecutive full-time undergraduate study -- toward your first bachelor's degree -- at Saint Mary's College.
This award is available to admitted first-year students graduating from De La Salle Christian Brothers high schools. Students from other historically Lasallian affiliated schools (Carondelet High School in Concord, CA; San Joaquin Memorial High School in Fresno, CA; Garces Memorial in Bakersfield, CA) may also qualify. Recipients can combine these awards with one of the listed merit-based scholarships determined at the time of acceptance.
Scholarship amount per year: $13,000
Total Scholarship Amount over four academic years: $52,000
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship valued at $2,000 is available to new first-year and transfer students who are admitted for the upcoming Fall or Spring term, and who are the immediate children or grandchildren of Saint Mary’s College alumni. Qualification as an 'alumni' constitutes successful completion of an Undergraduate (B.A. or B.S.) or Graduate (M.A., M.S., MBA, MFA, M.Ed, Ed.D) degree from the college. The scholarship amount of $2,000 is awarded for four years of consecutive full-time undergraduate study and is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress.
To apply: Eligible legacy applicants will be automatically awarded upon contingent acceptance to the college.
A Note about the Legacy Scholarship: This award may be combined with other Saint Mary’s College Scholarships for up to a maximum of three separate awards, which may not exceed the cost of tuition. These awards will be applied against any financial need that you may demonstrate through the filing of the Free Application of Federal Student Aid. Please note that should you later prove eligible for any Pell and or California Grant aid, the maximum amount of gift aid that you will be awarded will not exceed the cost of tuition.
You may contact Jenna Sciarrino, Associate Director of Admissions, at jcs22@stmarys-ca.edu if you have any questions.
Students may only compete for one Departmental Scholarship. To be considered, applicants must submit all Saint Mary's application materials including their application, and high school transcript on or before the admissions Regular Decision Application Deadline of January 15, 2022.
Additional materials and letter(s) of recommendation can be emailed to scholarships-smcuser@stmarys-ca.edu.
Performing Arts candidates will be invited to this year's auditions, which will take place the same day as Scholarship Saturday, February 26, 2022. We will accept applications through February 1, 2022, or until all slots are filled.
Invited applicants must interview with faculty from their department of interest on-campus during our Scholarship Saturday event held on Saturday, February 26, 2022.
Annual departmental scholarships have an award amount of $13,000 ($52,000 in total for four years of consecutive study) and are available to selected incoming first-year students.
Departmental programs will also award a total of three merit-based full-tuition scholarships to students for notable academic excellence.
| Name of Departmental Scholarship | Application Materials | Application Link |
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Accounting and |
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Apply Here |
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Art Practice and Art History |
|
Apply Here |
| Chemistry |
|
Apply Here |
| English |
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Apply Here |
| Environmental Science |
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Apply Here |
| History |
|
Apply Here |
| Integrated Liberal Arts and Sciences (the Integral Program) |
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Apply Here |
| Mathematics (Bro. Dominic Barry Math Competition) |
|
Apply Here |
| Performing Arts Auditions Required |
Annual merit-based scholarships of $13,000 are available to selected incoming first-year students |
Apply Here |
| Physics | Students will be asked to participate in a lab activity. You must participate in the lab activity to be eligible to receive the scholarship. | Apply Here |
| Politics |
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Apply Here |
| Theology and Religious Studies |
|
Apply Here |
The Macken Collegiate Forensics Scholarships
Students are selected to receive scholarships based on their level of commitment to the Macken team, their competitive potential and contributions, and their academic standing. To apply students must complete and submit the following items.
You will need to apply for admission to Saint Mary’s College
Complete the Macken Collegiate Forensics application
Available to incoming first-year, transfers, and currently enrolled SMC students
Scholarships range from $2,500 - $13,000 annually
Apply for the Macken Collegiate Forensics Scholarship HERE!
Robert W. Summers Scholarship in Communication and Journalism
This scholarship in Journalism and Communication offered to one eligible entering first-year student and one transferring or continuing junior each year. This merit-based award is for Communication majors or those with a demonstrable commitment to journalism. To apply students must complete and submit the following items.
You will need to apply for admission to Saint Mary’s College
Complete Scholarship Application
Provide a brief (500 words) statement of interest
Provide proof of a 3.0+ GPA
Your Portfolio of work on journalism (broadly defined)
One letter of reference
The scholarship amount is $6,000 per year
Typically, students receive a combination of state and federal grants, Saint Mary's grants, and need-based and non-need-based government and private loans. Those are all in addition to the many merit-based scholarships from noteworthy academic performance and specific department honors. Many find the best combination of these resources, making the average Saint Mary's financial aid package approximately $36,780 for the 2020-21 academic year.
To apply: These need-based grants depend on student demonstrated financial need as determined by the FAFSA. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid if you have additional questions.
Saint Mary's College of California proudly participates in the GI BILL® and Yellow Ribbon Program! Saint Mary's is committed to providing our veteran students and their dependents access to all of the benefits they may be eligible for, in addition to the other financial aid options such as federal, state, and/or institutional grants, loans, and scholarships. Through our campus's Registrar Office, we can provide an array of benefits to veterans and their eligible dependents under the various public laws that come under the direction of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Learn More About Our Veterans/Post 9-11 GI BILL® Benefits Here
Are you looking for more financial assistance to pay for your education? Not only may students be eligible for Saint Mary's specific merit scholarships, as well as, need-based aid, but we also accept outside and private scholarships that students may receive to cover the cost of attendance. The links provided below are additional resources for students and their families.
Private Scholarships
Private organizations and corporations offer a variety of scholarships, which can be used to fund your education at Saint Mary's. See Private Scholarships and Scholarship Websites That Work for more information.
