- 303 Haggar College Center
Saint Mary's College
Notre Dame, IN 46556
(574) 284-4579 - Director of Media Relations
Gwen O'Brien
gobrien@saintmarys.edu
Press Release
Saint Mary's College Announces Tuition Information for 2009-2010
Contact:
Gwen O’Brien
Director of Media Relations
Saint Mary's College
(574) 284-4579 (desk)
(574) 286-4977 (cell)
March 17, 2009 (Notre Dame, Ind.)—With an eye on the fragile economy and its effect on families’ ability to afford college, the Saint Mary's College Board of Trustees approved a moderate 5% increase in tuition and a 3% increase in room and board for the 2009-2010 academic year. The average cost to attend Saint Mary’s next year will be $38,822, including tuition, room, board and fees.
In a letter today to parents of students returning for the 2009-2010 academic year, Saint Mary’s President Carol Ann Mooney acknowledged the challenging economic environment, saying, “We are aware of the financial hardships faced by many of our students’ families. We realize that many of you make significant sacrifices in order to allow your daughter to attend Saint Mary’s. You can give her no finer gift, nor can you make any better investment in her future. Thank you for the trust you place in us. We do, and will continue to, work hard to merit that trust.”
The College has worked tirelessly to manage expenses in order to keep tuition increases to a minimum and make more money available for financial aid. The president has asked all departments to closely monitor their budgets and reduce their expenses. While making financial adjustments, the College has been careful to trim areas that will not affect students’ education and student services. Belt-tightening measures have included a hiring freeze for non-essential positions, eliminating travel for staff and administrators, cuts to operating expenses, and no raises for faculty, staff and administrators for the next year.
The College remains committed to maintaining its excellent liberal arts education, while making it as affordable as possible. Nearly one-third of our operating budget is devoted to financial aid. The end result is that, for some students, the cost of attending a private college or university is actually lower than that of attending a public university. In addition, the benefits of personal attention and close faculty/student working relationships that are possible at a small school last a lifetime.
Saint Mary’s is ranked by US .S. News & World Report magazine as one of the nation’s “Best Liberal Arts Colleges.” Saint Mary's was ranked at 104 out of 248 schools on the list in the magazine’s “2009 America’s Best Colleges” issue. In 2008, the Princeton Review rated Saint Mary’s College as one of the best colleges in the Midwest. The College has held the “Best in the Midwest” designation every year since the Princeton Review began the “Best Regional College” categorizations six years ago.
About Saint Mary’s College: Saint Mary’s College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, women’s institution offering bachelor’s degrees in more than 30 major areas of study. The College has six nationally accredited academic programs: social work, art, music, teacher education, chemistry and nursing. Saint Mary's College ranks among the nation's top liberal arts colleges in U.S. News & World Report's 2009 annual survey. Founded in 1844, Saint Mary’s is a pioneer in the education of women, and is sponsored by the Sisters of the Holy Cross.
