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The Class of 2028, along with all students who transferred into Saint Mary’s this fall, are nearing the end of their first semester at SMC—and making history as they do so. 

This fall, Saint Mary’s once again welcomed an incredibly diverse incoming class of 547 first-year and transfer students. More than a quarter of those Gaels identify as first-generation college students, and 58% percent of the entering class are students of color. The class also includes 123 transfer students who come to SMC from dozens of community colleges and four-year institutions.

The data represents the fulfillment of Saint Mary’s commitment to transformative and accessible education for all. Now, President Roger Thompson is focused on ensuring that the College’s programs and experience welcome an ever-growing community of Gaels. 

“Amidst the many changes in higher education and our country at large, the fact that Saint Mary’s continues to attract a talented and diverse student population is extremely heartening,” says President Thompson. “Having said that, we are working hard at Saint Mary’s to ensure that our first-year classes continue to rise in number and that they embody the characteristics of our new students. We know the Saint Mary’s community creates an incredible experience for all students, so we want to grow and deliver that experience to more and more future Gaels.” 

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Arriving from Far and Wide

The new students hail from throughout California as well as numerous states and territories, from Washington to Arkansas, Alaska to Guam. Saint Mary’s also welcomed students from 13 countries and nearly every continent, a testament to the College’s growing international reputation. The incoming class includes residents of Australia, Chile, Ghana, Myanmar, and beyond. 

For nearly a decade, Saint Mary’s has been designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution. This fall saw 172 first-year students and 30 transfer students identifying as Latinx or Hispanic, the largest number ever. Together, those students make up 37% of all new students.

Additionally, SMC's Black student population exceeds many California colleges and universities, with 4.4% of incoming students identifying as Black. Notably, too, around one in ten incoming Gaels identify as Asian, Pacific Islander, or Native American, bolstering Saint Mary’s recognition as an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving Institution.

“We know the Saint Mary’s community creates an incredible experience for all students, so we want to grow and deliver that experience to more and more future Gaels.” 

—SMC President Roger Thompson

Opportunities Abound

Whether it’s for nationally renowned Men’s Basketball, championship-winning Men’s Rugby, or conference champ Softball, each year Saint Mary’s welcomes dozens of student-athletes from across the globe for 18 Division 1 sports. This fall, 111 first-year and transfer students—a full 20% of this new class—began sporting their Gael red and blue. Many more take part in 15 Club Sports teams.

As for gender, the incoming class is the most evenly split in years, with 52% identifying as female and 48% as male. The gender breakdown is especially noteworthy given that nationwide, male college enrollment now hovers closer to 40%. 

While first-year students don’t have to declare a major until their second year, members of the Class of 2028 and our new transfer students have expressed the most interest in Communication, Business Administration, Finance, and Psychology. Incoming students also show an interest in Computer Science and Data Science, two programs established in recent years. 

The incoming class of first-year and transfer students arrives at Saint Mary’s as the College continues to earn national recognition in numerous ways. In the latest Princeton Review rankings, SMC was lauded as an ideal choice for students looking for a “best fit.” At the same time, Money magazine gave the College high marks for quality, affordability, and student outcomes, while Washington Monthly ranked Saint Mary’s among the top 3% of the country’s master’s universities. For the second year in a row, too, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) awarded Saint Mary’s a top 10 ranking for sustainable food and dining practices. 

In many ways, it’s a great time to be a Gael.