Apply to Graduate Studies at St. Mary’s
Graduate studies at St. Mary’s University are dedicated to equipping students with advanced academic knowledge, which is becoming increasingly essential in both the public and private sectors. Here, esteemed faculty work closely with a select number of students to help cultivate their intellectual growth and professional preparedness. St. Mary’s offers graduate education across more than 30 master’s and doctoral fields, along with graduate certificate opportunities.
Applying as a graduate student at St. Mary’s is easy — and free! The GRE/GMAT/MAT test is optional for students applying to most graduate studies, and there is no application fee.
For questions regarding the graduate application process, contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 210-436-3126 or graduate@stmarytx.edu.
During my time in the [MBA] graduate program, I have had the privilege of making lasting memories, growing alongside my peers and augmenting my professional expertise. I feel confidently equipped to thrive in an array of business contexts and to add both value and impact to my organization.”
Brandon Longstreet (MBA ’23)
Graduate Application Checklist
To apply for graduate studies at St. Mary’s, you’ll need to complete the free online application and submit required documents through the application portal, where you will find the graduate application checklist. Some areas of graduate study may require additional steps for admission, such as a personal essay or an interview with the Program Director. Admission as an international graduate student also requires additional steps.
All students applying for graduate studies at St. Mary’s complete the following steps:
Apply for admission to St. Mary’s University as a graduate student. The online application is free.
1. Submit an application
Once you have completed your application, you will need to submit transcript(s) or credentials.
Domestic graduate applicants will need to submit transcript(s) from all undergraduate and graduate accredited colleges or universities to the Office of Graduate Admission in the following ways:
- Electronically through a secure credentialing platform such as Parchment, National Student Clearinghouse or a direct secure submission to the St. Mary’s Registrar’s Office
- By mail in a sealed envelope sent directly from the issuing institution’s Registrar’s Office to:
St. Mary’s University
Graduate Admission
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228
Transcripts submitted by the applicant, submitted in an unsealed envelope or sent via personal email, are considered unofficial and will not satisfy the requirement.
If you have international credentials or currently hold a Visa, please visit the International Student Admission webpage for information on how to submit transcripts and credentials.
2. Submit transcript(s)
After you submit your application, you will need to submit a letter(s) of recommendation using the application portal. In the portal, enter your recommender’s information (name and email address), and they will receive a link to upload their letter of recommendation. The letter will then be attached to your application. You will see status updates on the application portal regarding the submission.
You may choose for your recommender to submit their letter of recommendation by mail to:
St. Mary’s University
Graduate Admission
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228
The number of recommendations required for your application will depend on the program. Most master’s programs require two letters of recommendation, while most graduate certificate programs require one or zero. The doctoral program requires three letters of recommendation.
Letters of recommendation should be written by individuals who can address your intellectual competence and potential for success (e.g., professors, employers, etc.). Recommendations must be written on institutional/business letterhead.
3. Submit Letter(s) of Recommendation
After you submit your application, you will need to submit a statement of purpose through the application portal. In the portal, you will see a drop-down section to upload your statement of purpose.
The statement of purpose should identify your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, your experience in the field and your plans for the degree upon graduation.
4. Submit Statement of Purpose
The GRE/GMAT/MAT test is optional for prospective students applying to most graduate programs (non-law). However, if you choose to submit test scores, they should be sent directly from the testing agency by adding St. Mary’s University to your list of schools to receive the test score(s). St. Mary’s University school code is 6637. You may email a copy of your results to the Graduate Admission team at graduate@stmarytx.edu, and our team will verify the authenticity of the document.
Test scores are valid for five years after the test date. Tests may be waived for students who already have a graduate degree. The appropriate test should be taken before registration; however, for some degree programs, tests may be taken during the first semester of enrollment, with continued enrollment contingent upon test results.
5. Submit Test Scores (if applicable)
Once an application is complete and we have received all required materials, the Office of Graduate Admission will forward your application to the Graduate Admission Committee for review. After all the required application materials have been received, it normally takes one to two weeks for an application decision to be made. However, some programs may have a priority deadline, and students are typically notified within the next month after their respective deadlines.
Graduate Admission Requirements
In addition to the application and required documents for all graduate students, some fields of graduate study at St. Mary’s University may have specific admission requirements, such as a particular undergraduate degree, minimum GPA or certain prerequisite courses. It is important to review the admission requirements for your chosen field using the drop-down boxes below to ensure your application is completed correctly.
All programs require an official degree-granting transcript. International applicants must send an international credential evaluation from a NACES member agency. The GRE/GMAT is optional unless otherwise noted. Requirements are subject to change and additional materials may be required. Contact your program director or Graduate Admission for details.
Bachelor’s Degree
To apply to be a graduate student at St. Mary’s, you must:
- First possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, or
- Be on track to receive a bachelor’s degree before the first day of classes
You will need to submit official transcript(s) from all accredited colleges or universities to St. Mary’s when applying.
If you are a current St. Mary’s undergraduate student, consider a Combined Master’s Degree Program, which allows eligible undergraduate students to complete a bachelor’s and master’s degree in as little as five years. Check with your Academic Adviser to see if you are eligible.
Test Scores (Optional)
The GRE/GMAT/MAT test is optional for students applying to most graduate studies.
Some graduate studies may request test scores if the applicant’s cumulative GPA is below 3.0.
If you choose to submit test scores, they should be sent directly from the testing agency using the St. Mary’s University school code, 6637.
| Program | Letter(s) of Recommendation | Statement of Purpose | Résumé/CV | GRE/GMAT | Start Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Business Administration | ✓ | Any |
Greehey School of Business Requirements
| Program | Letter(s) of Recommendation | Statement of Purpose | Prompt-Based Writing Sample | Resume/CV | GRE/GMAT | Start Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate Biblical Studies | 1 | ✓ | Any | |||
| Certificate Community-based Assessment and Evaluation | ✓ | ✓ | Any | |||
| Certificate Digital Communication | ✓ | Any | ||||
| Certificate Dual Credit Teaching English, Literature and Language | 1 | Any | ||||
| Certificate Dual Credit Teaching Government | 1 | Any | ||||
| Certificate Dual Credit Teaching in Psychology | 1 | Any | ||||
| Certificate Dual Credit Teaching U.S. History | Any | |||||
| Certificate Public Communication, Public Policy, and Public Leadership | ✓ | ✓ | Any | |||
| Certificate Theology | 1 | ✓ | Any | |||
| Certificate U.S. Public History | Any | |||||
| Clinical Mental Health Counseling | 2 | ✓ | Any | |||
| Communication Studies | 2 | ✓ | Any | |||
| Counselor Education and Supervision (Doctoral) | 3 | ✓ | ✓ | Fall | ||
| Curriculum and Instruction with Dual Certification | 2 | ✓ | Any | |||
| English Literature and Language | 2 | ✓ | Any | |||
| International Relations – Security Policy | 2 | ✓ | Any | |||
| International Relations – Sustainable Peace | 2 | ✓ | Any | |||
| Public Administration | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any | ||
| Public History | Any | |||||
| Theology | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any | ||
| Industrial/Organizational Psychology | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Fall | |
| Program Evaluation | ✓ | Any |
College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Requirements
| Program | Letter(s) of Recommendation | Statement of Purpose | Resume/CV | GRE/GMAT | Start Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Certificate Cybersecurity | ✓ | ✓ | Any | ||
| Certificate Educational Computer Gaming | ✓ | ✓ | Any | ||
| Certificate Medical Genomics | ✓ | ✓ | Fall | ||
| Certificate Software Engineering – Online | ✓ | ✓ | Any | ||
| Computer Information System | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any | |
| Computer Science | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any | |
| Cybersecurity | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any | |
| Electrical and Computer Engineering | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any | |
| Industrial Engineering and Management | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any | |
| Medical Genomics | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Fall and Spring | |
| Software Engineering – Online | 2 | ✓ | ✓ | Any |
School of Science, Engineering and Technology Requirements
Transcript(s) or International Credentials
International applicants who have attended a (non-U.S.) college/university outside of the United States must send their transcript to a separate evaluation agency for a detailed, course-by-course evaluation and official translation of the credentials and the agency sends the evaluation to St. Mary’s University. The evaluation agency should be a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
For more information, visit the International Student Admission page.
International Student Language Proficiency Requirements
- Minimum of 6.0 on IELTS for all graduate programs (except MBA: applicants require 6.5 on IELTS)
- Minimum of 80 on TOEFL for all graduate programs (except MBA: applicants require 87 on TOEFL )
- Minimum of 115 on Duolingo English Test (except MBA: applicants require 120 on Duolingo English Test)
International Graduate Student Requirements
Application Deadlines
Graduate Domestic Application Deadlines
| Academic Term | Application Priority Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester (August to December) | July 1 |
| Spring Semester (January to May) | Nov. 15 |
| Summer Semester (begins late May/early June) | April 1 |
Graduate International Application Deadlines
| Academic Term | Application Priority Deadline |
|---|---|
| Fall Semester (August to December) | May 1 |
| Spring Semester (January to May) | October 1 |
What Other Graduate Students Are Asking
Have a question about applying to St. Mary’s graduate studies? Check our page of Graduate Admission FAQs for a list of common questions about the application process, transcripts, test scores and more.
Already accepted?
Graduate Admission Next Steps
If you’ve already been admitted to St. Mary’s University as a graduate student, you’ll need to complete a few more steps to complete enrollment. Review the Graduate Rattler Roadmap for next steps and deadlines.