St. Mary's College of Maryland Homepage

Fall Open House

Join us for our Open House this Fall

September 20

October 25

November 15

* Qualifies for the Discover SMCM Grant

Help us get to know you.

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One of the most important things you can do next is to visit SMCM in person.

Sign up for your personal visit. We'd love to see you!

Choose your preferred day and time slot now:

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* Qualifies for the Discover SMCM Grant

We are the National Public Honors College. Here’s what that means—and what’s in it for you. St. Mary’s College of Maryland offers a nationally-ranked undergraduate liberal arts and sciences education and a rigorous small-college experience like those found at high-priced private colleges. But here’s the kicker: As a public college, we’re much more affordable.

If you are smart, ambitious and thrive when working with others to take on big ideas, you belong here on our beautiful waterfront campus where you’ll find yourself studying on hammocks, socializing over bonfires and getting a career-ready edge unlike any other.

Where Seahawks Intern, Attend Graduate School, and get Hired

Eight logos representing Apple, Bank of America, Amazon, National Geographic, CNN, Orioles, Princeton University, and Yale University arranged in two rows on a light gray background.

23

Varsity athletic teams (NCAA Division III, ICSA, Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference)

10:1

Our student-to-faculty ratio is one of the lowest in the nation, which means our faculty will really get to know you

60+

Academic programs, including Pre‑Med, Pre‑Law, and Pre‑Engineering

Why Visit St. Mary's College of Maryland

Two scientists wearing gloves and glasses use pipettes to transfer liquid between beakers in a laboratory setting.

See what an All-Honors College is like

This isn’t just an honors program. It’s an entire honors college dedicated to providing all of our students an outstanding academic experience where you will develop close relationships with faculty as you dig deep into your major.

Four people sit by a campfire on a sandy beach at sunset, with one person playing a small guitar. Grassy dunes and water are visible in the background.

Tour our waterfront campus

Free paddle boards, outdoor classes, toes in the sand… life is better by the river. Tour what’s been voted one of the best beach colleges in the country and see why Seahawks prefer to live on campus. (And get this: we guarantee four years of housing.)

A group of students and a teacher stand outside by a chalkboard. One student writes on the board while others watch and discuss.

Learn About LEAD

LEAD stands for Learning through Experiential and Applied Discovery. Think of it as an all-encompassing, integrated pathway of academics, career preparation and opportunities to apply your learning through research, internship or international experiences. LEAD will prepare you for whatever your next step is—graduate school, the workforce or service. As such, we guarantee every student the opportunity to engage in a research, internship or international experience.

Two people wearing sunglasses and sailing gear steer a small sailboat on a calm body of water, with grassy land and trees in the background.

Experience Student life as it should be

Picture a strong sense of community where everyone is friendly and likes to have fun. Learn about our athletics (go Seahawks!) and 100+ student clubs. Check out our climbing wall and award-winning performing arts center. You might want to ask your tour guide: What’s the Bottom County Festival all about?

A blue and white badge reads "The Princeton Review Best Value Colleges 2024" with a piggy bank and the text "Best Schools for Making an Impact."
A blue and white badge reads "#1 Best College Food in MD 2025" with "Niche" repeated around the edge."
A circular badge reads "Washington Monthly Best Bang for the Buck 2024" in blue and yellow text."
A blue and gold seal reads "#1 Best Small Colleges in Maryland 2025" with the word "Niche" repeated in a circle around the border."

Discover SMCM Grant

There’s nothing like visiting St. Mary’s College of Maryland, The National Public Honors College. From our stunning 360-acre waterfront campus to our vibrant community, you’ll quickly see why students from across the country choose SMCM.

Now, visiting campus comes with even more value! We are pleased to introduce the Discover SMCM Grant of $1000 for MD/DC residents and $2000 for non MD/DC residents to make your visit even more beneficial.

It’s our way of saying thank you for taking the time to visit campus and discover what makes SMCM so special.

A group of people stands around a tour guide speaking in front of outdoor brick stairs on a college campus.

How it works

    1. Schedule and complete your official campus visit by:
      • December 1, 2025, if applying for the Spring or Fall 2026 semester.
      • December 1, 2026, if applying for the Spring or Fall 2027 semester.
    2. Apply and be admitted to SMCM.
    3. Enroll, and your one-time Discover SMCM Grant will be applied to your first year’s charges
      • $500 on your first semester bill and $500 on your second semester bill (for MD/DC residents).
      • $1000 on your first semester bill and $1000 on your second semester bill (for non MD/DC residents).

If you have already visited campus, good news, the grant will be retroactively applied for visiting during your junior or senior year of high school—or, for transfer students, the year before enrolling—provided all requirements are met.

Come visit us by the river.

We’d love to show you what it’s like to be at an honors-for-all college that’s surprisingly affordable.