NO MATTER
YOU’RE FROM YOU CAN GET BY STARTING
CONTENTS
The campus at sunrise projects a sense of calm before the College comes to vibrant life as students head to class and activities.
You’re smart. You’re ambitious. You thrive when working with others to take on big ideas.
You’re not just looking for a college – you’re looking for an inclusive community where you’ll be challenged, supported and inspired to lead.
A public college named for our place, St. Mary’s College of Maryland is the first all-honors college in the United States and one of only three in the country.
Here, every student engages in an honors-level education rooted in the liberal arts and sciences. You’ll join a close-knit community of motivated peers and work alongside faculty who are committed to your growth –both intellectually and personally.
SMCM has the only undergraduate marine science program in Maryland.
National Rankings
Our small, discussion-based classes sharpen your critical thinking, communication and problemsolving skills. You’ll explore across disciplines; tackle real-world challenges; and apply your learning through research, internships, international education and a capstone experience that sets you apart. It’s no wonder that our high national rankings reflect the quality of our academic programs, student life experiences and the success of our graduates – at a cost that is truly affordable.
We are the National Public Honors College.
Join us – and take the LEAD with purpose, with passion, and with people who push you to be your best.
Learning Through Experiential and Applied Discovery.
We call it LEAD. It’s an integrated approach to academics, professional development and experiential education that is designed to ensure that you’ll graduate with the skills and experience you need to have a noticeable edge that employers and graduate schools tell us they’re looking for. LEAD features the HONORS COLLEGE PROMISE which guarantees every student the opportunity to engage in faculty-guided research, internships or international experiences.
89%
of students participated in the Honors College Promise (Class of 2024)
SMCM is home to the Zeta Chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society
Coen Dewalt ’25 business administration and economics majors
A Phi Beta Kappa scholar from Catonsville, Maryland, Coen was two-time captain of the Men’s Rugby Club. For his senior seminar in business, he and his classmates partnered with students from Colombia, South America and were co-taught by their mutual professors. “We used WhatsApp and Zoom for our project meetings and presentations. It was a fascinating opportunity to explore new experiences in international business.” Coen plans to work in finance.
of students conducted research with faculty (Class of 2024) 74%
Anjali Raheja ’26
biology and neuroscience majors, Spanish minor
During the summer of 2024, Anjali did directed research mentored by Assistant Professor of Neurobiology Sarah Latchney on the role of microglia in hippocampal neurogenesis by studying brain tissue from mice with epilepsy. She presented her research at the national Society for Neuroscience annual meeting. She co-authored a paper with her professor that was published in a national science journal. She has interned at the St. Mary’s County Health Department and volunteers with her local rescue squad. On campus, Anjali is a DeSousa-Brent Scholar, a member of SMACS/BOSS and active with the College chapter for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. After having taken full advantage of LEAD and the Honors College Promise, her future plans are in medicine, as a cancer researcher or physician assistant.
Annika Kumwembe ’25
physics major
“When I decided to graduate in three years, I was encouraged by OS3 (Office of Student Success Services) to apply for a summer research experience. I applied to 14 and chose to go to the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to study the largescale structure of the universe and test new techniques in intrinsic alignment measurements.”
With the support of her SMCM physics professors and advisers from Harvard-Smithsonian, she will be first author on her publication with the Center for Astrophysics and the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Collaboration. Annika’s next stop: Dartmouth, for a PhD in electrical engineering with the goal to create nanotechnology for astronomical instrumentation.
Students were careerready through internships (in 2023-24)
WHERE YOU’LL LEARN FROM THE BEST
Across the board, our professors agree that the reason they teach at St. Mary’s College is because of the smart, ambitious and collaborative students who choose to learn here. To guide, steer, mentor and empower those who are earnest in their desire to be their best – that’s what drives them.
SMCM’s student-to-faculty ratio supports students through their time on campus and beyond 10:1
Top
faculty,
small classes, personal attention
98% of the faculty hold the terminal degree in their field and include award-winning teachers and researchers, Fulbright Scholars and members of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. 66% of students conduct research with faculty (Class of 2023).
Jennifer Cognard-Black, PhD, is an example of our award-winning teachers on campus. Jennifer is a professor of English with a focus on food writing, director of National Fellowships & Awards and her accolades include:
2020 recipient of the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching
2020 Senior Fulbright Scholar to the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Find out more about Jennifer’s work here:
2012 Fulbright Scholar to the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
2002 and 2009 Faculty-Student Life Awardee
(and did we mention she’s authored 6 books during her tenure?!)
Check out her newest release on Audible – “Margaret Atwood: Modern Mythmaker”
Jennifer Cognard-Black, PhD
BEGIN HERE
of students did experiential or community-based learning (Class of 2024)
Silvio Borrero, PhD
Borrero’s business students teamed with students from Colombia on International finance.
Silvio Borrero, PhD (bottom left), teaches business strategy, organizational behavior and business education. Did we mention he holds five advanced degrees from institutions in Colombia and the United States?
“Keep being curious about business and professions, but also about life. That will keep you young and excited forever.”
Silvio
Borrero, PhD professor of business
Asif Dowla, PhD (above), professor of economics and Landers Endowed Chair in the Liberal Arts, is also an an award-winning professor at SMCM. His honors include;
2022 London School of Economics invited lecturer
2018 his “Climate Change and Microfinance” article is a top 20 most downloaded article in Business Strategy and Development
2008 Homer L. Dodge Award for Excellence in Teaching
Find out more Majors & Minors
full-time faculty support student success at SMCM
Asif Dowla, PhD Dowla keeps in touch with hundreds of his former students.
Find what you love.
With 60+ student clubs and organizations, covering academics, athletics, cultural, faithbased, performance, service & social change as well as special interests, chances are you’ll find something that speaks to you!
See more about student clubs and activities
“Being a part of the Club Soccer exec board isn’t something I had planned on but I met so many great people in the club I felt a strong desire to follow their footsteps. Now I have the opportunity to learn how to host big events and build an inclusive environment for anyone interested in soccer on campus.”
Liam Johnson ’25 history major
$100K+
budgeted annually for student clubs (2024-25 Academic year)
The River Runner (motorcoach) is the best way to get into town—or the big city!
Students performed hours of community service during 2024-25 school year
“I chose varsity swimming at SMCM because I really enjoyed the team dynamic when I visited. Our coach is very flexible and understanding, and he truly sets aside time to work with each and every swimmer on the team.”
Bella Ramirez ’26 enviromental studies and Spanish majors; biology minor
Check out headliners and student acts at the Dodge Performing Arts Center
“With the small class sizes and all the different clubs on campus, I have had so many amazing opportunities to find and connect with students, faculty and staff.”
Mary Govan ’27 psychology major, special education and women, gender and sexuality studies minors, varsity sailor
of students live on campus (2024-25)
Find
Did we mention the sunsets?
Izzy the terrapin in her tank at Schaefer Hall
Art majors spend their days painting, drawing and sculpting at Montgomery Hall
Get moving at Jamie L. Roberts stadium, home to SMCM field sports
Hungry for more? SMCM has been voted ‘Best College food in Maryland’
Historic St. Mary’s City is a great place to explore
SMCM is located on
From the Bend to the Point, St. Mary’s College offers students something to do from sunrise to sunset!
acres of trails, waterfront and fields for students to enjoy and relax on.
St. Mary’s College has been home to 9 Olympians, 18 national sailing titles and more than 150 individual All-American honors
“One of the things I love the most about St. Mary’s College is how welcoming the community is. Starting college felt a bit daunting, but I quickly became involved and met people who are now some of my closest friends! Whether in class, clubs, or just walking around campus, I always find a familiar face.”
Haley Gambrell ’26 mathematics and economics double major
“If you’re coming from 5,000 miles away like I did in Wales or a few hours away, you’ll find a home at St. Mary’s College. The staff, faculty, students and coaches all create a welcoming community.”
Alun Oliver ’04 Head Men’s Soccer coach
You’ll find SMCM students on the water—and under the water!
of students completed a Capstone Project (Class of 2024)
St. Mary’s College of Maryland put up on the United East Conference Fall 2024 All-Academic Team 91 student-athletes
Jaedon Aso ,26
Major: art
“I’m really focused on academics, I was a high-level academic student in my high school…so I wanted to find a school that could match my level.”
Varsity Sports: Men’s
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country
Lacrosse
Rowing
Sailing (Co-ed)
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Varsity Sports: Women’s
Basketball
Cross Country
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Rowing
Sailing (Women’s and Co-ed)
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
NCAA DIVISION III
INTER-COLLEGIATE SAILING ASSOCIATION
INTERCOLLEGIATE ROWING ASSOCIATION
Find out more about SMCM’s athletic teams
“The liberal arts tradition emphasizes critical thinking, strong communication skills, a broad knowledge base and the ability to learn independently.
Casting a line
These skills transcend training in a specific career because they educate the whole person. Such an education prepares that person not for one career but for many.”
Professor Emeritus Jeffrey Hammond, “This Place Where We Are”
A psychology and history double major plus a musician, Ramtin Arablouei ’05, has drawn upon all three in his work as co-host and co-producer of NPR’s “Throughline” podcast since 2019. In 2021, the episode “Soleimani’s Iran” was a finalist for a Pulitzer Prize in Audio Reporting. In 2022, a three-part series on the history and culture of Afghanistan earned “Throughline” a Peabody
Award. Of his career, he says this: “I had this goal always of doing something that would make a difference in the world, but also something that was special. I’m very lucky to be able to create for a living. There’s always something to work for. And work is good for you. It’s good for your soul, that there’s always potential for something better ahead.”
In
good company
Meet Tenley. When Tenley Martin ’05 (pictured above, next to King Charles III) wasn’t playing with a Cuban salsa band, a Latin American folk music ensemble or a flamenco troupe, she was earning a master’s degree and a PhD in enthomusicology at the University of Leeds, England. Now a professor of music at Leeds Beckett University in Leeds, Martin was recognized by the king at Windsor Castle for service to community music across England. Tenley’s path started at SMCM with political science and anthropology majors and a music minor.
94%
career outcome rate: employed, in school, volunteering, or in the military (Class of 2023)
I am excited to share a recent publication from my undergrad… Many thanks to Dr. L atchney for the mentorship!
Brayan Ruiz Lopez ’24
Brayan Ruiz Lopez majored in neuroscience and completed a summer research internship at Princeton University in 2023. A DeSousa-Brent Scholar and student trustee, he is now a PhD student in neurobiology at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.
DeSousa-Brent & Our Other Signature Programs
The DeSousa-Brent Scholars, Landers Scholars, Monument Scholars and Sum primus program for first generation students are SMCM’s Signature Programs for cultivating the success of a richly diverse and talented student body.
Signature Programs offer cohort enrichment through enhanced academic advising and mentoring, leadership development opportunities, networking and social events.
DID YOU KNOW?
Learn more about these Signature Programs
SMCM has been lauded consistently by Washington Monthly for return on investment
Rose Young ’20 physics major, math minor
THEIR JOURNEY BEGAN
Rose Young is the auditory performance lab manager at Naval Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), Patuxent River. Young double majored in applied physics and mathematics and interned at NAWCAD as a student. She began working in human systems engineering as a data analyst and now helps develop and test hearing protection systems and helmet equipment for the fleet. She also teaches first- and second-year students at SMCM in the LEAD curriculum for career exploration and navigation.
Alumni mentoring/ networking with current students
SMCM has 29 Study Abroad programs for students
Founded on the site of Maryland’s first capital, the College stands as a living legacy to the ideals of freedom and inclusiveness.
Our beautiful residential campus on the banks of the St. Mary’s River inspires our work, our play and our commitment to the environment.
LOCATION
Our waterfront campus lies in the heart of the Chesapeake Bay region, adjacent to historic St. Mary’s City, Maryland.
Distance to Campus (in miles/driving time)
Annapolis: 70 mi/1hr 30 min
Washington, D.C.: 75 mi/1 hr 30 min
Baltimore: 97 mi/2 hr
Richmond: 114 mi/2 hr 10 min
New York City: 279 mi/5 hr 30 min
San Diego: 2667 mi/40 hr
Ready for an education on par with the best private liberal arts colleges, at the cost of a public institution, in a setting that’s breathtakingly beautiful? That’s what you’ll find here. Join us.
VISIT
Seeing is believing! Come for a tour.
Sign up for an event. Do both!
smcm.edu/visit
APPLY
Feeling excited? Act on that impulse. Some of the best journeys begin from a single moment of spontaneity. smcm.edu/apply/
AFFORD
Uncommonly worth it! 98% of students receive merit scholarships or need-based financial assistance. smcm.edu/afford/
Plan a visit to SMCM!
STUDENT LIFE
60+ Student Clubs
11 Club Sports
23 Varsity Sports
82% of students live on campus
ENROLLMENT
1646 students (fall 2024)
• 86% from Maryland
• 30% from historically underrepresented communities
• 24% first-generation college students
• 22% Pell grant recipients (fall 2024)
ACADEMIC PROFILE (middle 50%)
• 3.6-4.2 (weighted GPA)
• 3.3-3.9 (unweighted GPA)
TESTING (test optional) (middle 50%)
• SAT: 1190-1390
• ACT: 27-32
TUITION & FEES 2024-25*
• Maryland: $12,116
• District of Columbia: $22,116
• Out of State: $28,192
• Fees: $3,182
• Housing: $8,332 to $10,206
• Meals: $6,340 to $6,858
* As of May 2025
MAJORS
• Anthropology
- Archaeology*
• Art
• Asian Studies
• Biochemistry
• Biology
• Business Administration & Management
• Chemistry
• Computer Science
• Economics
• English
• Environmental Studies
• History
• International Languages & Cultures
- Spanish
• Marine Science
• Mathematics
• Neuroscience
• Performing Arts
- Music*
- Musical Theater*
- Theater, Dance & Performance Studies*
• Philosophy
• Physics
- Applied Physics
• Political Science
• Psychology
• Public Policy Studies
• Sociology
• Student-Designed
• Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
MINORS
• African & African Diaspora Studies
• Anthropology
• Art
• Asian Studies
• Biology
• Business Administration & Management
• Computer Science
• Creative Writing
• Data Science
• Economics
• Educational Studies
• English
• Environmental Studies
• History
• International Languages & Cultures
- Chinese
- French
- Spanish
• Materials Science
• Mathematics
• Museum Studies
• Music
• Musical Arts Administration
• Neuroscience
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Political Science
• Sociology
• Special Education
• Theater Studies
• Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies
PRE-PROFESSIONAL
• Pre-Dentistry
• Pre-Engineering
• Pre-Law
• Pre-Medicine
• Pre-Optometry
• Pre-Pharmacy
• Pre-Veterinary Science
JOINT DEGREE PROGRAMS
• B.S. Environmental Studies
/M.S. Climate Science & Policy or Environmental Policy**
• B.S. Physics/ B.S. Engineering***
**Master’s degrees awarded through Bard Graduate Programs
***B.S. in engineering awarded through Washington University, St. Louis
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES
• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) GRADUATE PROGRAMS
• Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT)
*Concentration