Saint Marys College
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
THE CORPORATION OF SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE, NOTRE DAME (SAINT MARY'S) IS A CATHOLIC, RESIDENTIAL, WOMEN'S, LIBERAL ARTS COLLEGE OFFERING UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES AND CO-EDUCATIONAL GRADUATE PROGRAMS. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O)
- Income
- $150.9 million
- Spending
- $130.8 million
- Spent on programs
- 89%
- Reserves
- 5.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 66%
- Employees
- 1,248
- Volunteers
- 125
- Highest pay
- $604,372, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 73% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 5.8 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 16% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 13% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 12% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1589% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 20 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 14% of charities in its peer group (education, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2528 of 30 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $116.7 million spent. AS A CENTER OF HIGHER EDUCATION, THE CORPORATION OF SAINT MARY'S COLLEGE, NOTRE DAME (SAINT MARY'S) FOSTERS AN ACADEMIC CLIMATE OF SCHOLARSHIP AND LEARNING FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS ALIKE. THROUGH EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND THE EXAMPLE OF ITS OWN ACTIVE SCHOLARSHIP, THE FACULTY CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO EXPAND THEIR HORIZONS AND SUPPORTS THEM IN THEIR INTELLECTUAL PURSUITS. A BROAD-BASED COURSE OF STUDY INVITES STUDENTS TO THINK CRITICALLY AND CREATIVELY ABOUT THE NATURAL WORLD AND HUMAN CULTURE. ACKNOWLEDGING THE NEED TO PREPARE WOMEN FOR AN ARRAY OF CAREERS, SAINT MARY'S INSISTS ON A LIBERAL ARTS FOUNDATION FOR ALL ITS STUDENTS. THROUGH THEIR YEARS AT SAINT MARY'S, STUDENTS ACQUIRE DEPTH AND BREADTH OF KNOWLEDGE, COMPETENCE IN QUANTITATIVE SKILLS AND MODERN LANGUAGES, THE ABILITY TO THINK CLEARLY ABOUT COMPLEX PROBLEMS, AND THE CAPACITY TO COMMUNICATE WITH PRECISION AND STYLE. (CONTINUED IN SCHEDULE O) AS A CATHOLIC COLLEGE, SAINT MARY'S CULTIVATES A COMMUNITY OF INTELLECTUAL INQUIRY, LITURGICAL PRAYER, AND SOCIAL ACTION. SAINT MARY'S CREATES AN OPEN FORUM IN WHICH STUDENTS FREELY AND CRITICALLY STUDY THE RICH HERITAGE OF THE CATHOLIC TRADITION, RAISING THE QUESTIONS NECESSARY TO DEVELOP A MATURE RELIGIOUS LIFE. THE CELEBRATION OF LITURGY ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THE FULLNESS OF LIFE AND ITS MYSTERIES. SAINT MARY'S NURTURES AWARENESS AND COMPASSION FOR A TROUBLED WORLD AND CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO PROMOTE HUMAN DIGNITY THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. IN PREPARING WOMEN FOR ROLES OF LEADERSHIP AND ACTION, SAINT MARY'S PAYS PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF WOMEN IN THE WORLDS OF WORK, CHURCH, COMMUNITY, AND FAMILY. DEDICATED TO THE PERSONAL AND SOCIAL GROWTH OF ITS STUDENTS, SAINT MARY'S CULTIVATES A COMMUNITY OF STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF, WHICH RESPONDS TO THE NEEDS OF WOMEN. IN ORDER TO OFFER THE RICHEST EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCE POSSIBLE, SAINT MARY'S STRIVES TO BRING TOGETHER WOMEN OF DIFFERENT NATIONS, CULTURES, AND RACES. IT PROVIDES A RESIDENTIAL ENVIRONMENT WHERE WOMEN GROW IN THEIR APPRECIATION OF THE STRENGTHS AND NEEDS OF OTHERS. THROUGH A HOST OF CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS ON CAMPUS AND IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, SAINT MARY'S INITIATES STUDENTS IN THE HABITS OF CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY. ENGAGING IN ALL ASPECTS OF THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, STUDENTS ACQUIRE THE HALLMARKS OF A LIBERALLY EDUCATED WOMAN: KEEN SELF-KNOWLEDGE, LIVELY IMAGINATION, LIFELONG INTELLECTUAL AND CULTURAL INTERESTS, AND THE ABILITY TO MAKE SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE CHOICES ABOUT THE FUTURE. CALLED INTO BEING IN RESPONSE TO THE PETITIONS OF PARENTS WHO DESIRED A CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS, SAINT MARY'S HAS MET THE RECOGNIZED NEEDS OF EACH GENERATION OF STUDENTS. THEN, AS NOW, A STRONG BACKGROUND IN THE LIBERAL ARTS WAS DEEMED ESSENTIAL FOR WOMEN WHO WERE EDUCATED TO ASSUME LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC STRUCTURES OF THEIR DAY. TODAY SAINT MARY'S CONTINUES TO FULFILL ITS ONGOING MISSION OF A CATHOLIC WOMEN'S COLLEGE DEDICATED TO THE TOTAL DEVELOPMENT OF ITS STUDENTS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED MAY 31, 2025, SAINT MARY'S HAD AN UNDERGRADUATE POPULATION OF 1,473 STUDENTS DURING THE FALL 2024 SEMESTER AND 1,437 STUDENTS DURING THE SPRING 2025 SEMESTER. THE FALL 2024 SEMESTER SAW THE TENTH YEAR OF GRADUATE PROGRAMS AT SAINT MARY'S. THE COLLEGE HAD A GRADUATE POPULATION OF 98 STUDENTS DURING THE FALL 2024 SEMESTER AND 96 STUDENTS DURING THE SPRING 2025 SEMESTER.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending May 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated November 6, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Worth knowing.
Not individually listed by the IRS as eligible, which is usual for local chapters covered by a parent organization's exemption. The master file records contributions to it as deductible.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending May 2025.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 1946.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.