Why Choose St. Mary's?

Personal attention is a phrase many students use to describe what they love about St. Mary's University. The combination of interpersonal relationships, academic excellence and global perspective results in a vibrant community of scholars that crosses generations and cultures. The Marianists who founded the University more than 150 years ago modeled servant leadership, and their welcoming Catholic spirit continues to infuse the entire student experience. All faiths are welcomed, enriching the dialogue and atmosphere of learning. Academic excellence, service learning, civic engagement and community building are priorities at St. Mary's.

Each year, the National Survey of Student Engagement asks students at hundreds of colleges and universities to reflect on the time they devote to various learning activities, and the results provide a window into the learning environment on a particular campus. See what St. Mary's students are saying about their experiences in the 2007 NSSE survey.

A few points of pride about St. Mary's…

Excellence in Service, Academics

• St. Mary's University is recognized by the John Templeton Foundation as a "College That Builds Character."
• St. Mary's ranks in the top 10 for high graduation rates among public and private colleges in Texas, and has been cited as a national model for student success by The Education Trust.

Quality Faculty

• An outstanding faculty is integral to academic quality. Fifteen St. Mary's faculty members have been designated Fulbright Scholars and 11 have received the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation award for professional dedication to teaching and outstanding scholarly achievement, while 92 percent of our faculty holds terminal degrees.

Outstanding Research, Academic Opportunities

• St. Mary's undergraduate students do professional-level research, such as studying cell behavior and development that could lead to a better understanding of diabetic neuropathy, a condition affecting some diabetes patients, and growth factor that could ultimately offer a treatment for multiple sclerosis.
• Forty-four areas of study are available to undergraduate students including choices such as Multinational Organization Studies, which is unique to St. Mary's, and International Relations, one of our premier programs.
• The Bill Greehey School of Business offers promising business professionals an accelerated MBA program, which takes about 12 months to complete, less than half the time of a traditional MBA degree program. Other innovative programs include combined bachelor's and master's degrees, which can be completed in five years.
• St. Mary's is committed to internationalizing the educational experience. We currently have international students from more than 40 countries, and support an active study aboard program.

Outstanding Outcomes

• The St. Mary's focus on civic engagement shows in our graduates. Almost 300 St. Mary's alumni have been elected to public office in America. More than 20 graduates have risen to the rank of general in the U.S. Armed Forces. In recent years, 72 St. Mary's alumni have volunteered in the Peace Corps and dozens of alumni have served in the U.S. Foreign Service.