Butler vs. St. Mary's College

Comparable Facts

Compare Butler University in Indianapolis, IN with Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Butler University is larger than St. Mary's College based on total student enrollment (5,746 students vs. 1,601 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Butler University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Saint Mary's College is in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting).
• Butler University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Butler University 11:1; Saint Mary's College 9:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's College are 13.2% lower than at Butler University ($14,260 vs. $16,430).
• Out-of-state tuition is 11.9% higher at St. Mary's College than at Butler University (about $5,670 more per year; $53,230 vs. $47,560).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Butler University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 39.4% larger than aid received by Butler University students ($38,748 vs. $27,790).

Admissions details

• Incoming Butler students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 28) as students at St. Mary's College (28).
• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Butler and St. Mary's College.
• Typical fall application deadline: Butler Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Butler average a 3.92 high school GPA, 0.09 higher than at St. Mary's College (3.83).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.9% at Butler vs. 20.1% at St. Mary's College.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College and Butler graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Saint Mary's College and Butler graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Butler students, three years after graduation (85% vs. 84%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.