Saint Mary’s University

Saint Mary’s University keeps classes small, with an average of 35 students in an introductory course. Saint Mary’s also has a strong international community; a fifth of its student body hails from 117 countries. “Saint Mary’s is more than a place of learning—it is a community where discovery, belonging and ambition come together,” says president Michael Khan. “Every student here has the potential to shape our future, and my role is to help open the doors that make that possible.” Bachelor of commerce students get hands-on learning through case competitions, international experience, student-run investment programs and interaction with the business community. The Scott McCain & Leslie McLean Centre for Sport, Business and Health has expanded and is developing new programs for students in three areas: sport education, women in sport business and athlete well-being. In response to an increased demand for STEM programming, the school recently relocated its engineering department to a newly renovated 28,000-square-foot building with state-of-the-art labs, classrooms and project rooms. The school’s new AI playground is now open for students to use and includes 11 AI-powered applications, including Loona, a robot dog that can learn tricks and commands. The campus is small and intimate, occupying a leafy city block in Halifax’s South End. Downtown is only minutes away. A network of overpasses and tunnels gets students to and from class without having to set foot outside in bad weather.

Campus buzz: The Sankofa: Black Excellence Commons is a newly opened student centre for Black-identifying Saint Mary’s students that provides a place to gather, study and connect with Black culture. 

Quick facts

Tuition (includes compulsory ancillary fees) $9,863 ($11,146 out-of-province students) 

Median Entering Grades
Arts: 83.6% | Science: 87.4% | Commerce: 85.3% | Engineering: 85.8% 

Student Body
Undergraduates: Full-time: 4,838 | Part-time: 420
Graduates: Full-time: 612 | Part-time: 121
International Students: First-year: 13% | Graduate: 62%

Housing Facts
Residence Spaces: 1,030 (for 2025, 100% of first-years who applied got a spot)
Cost of double room with meals: $13,335 to $13,670 
Cost of single room with meals: $15,785 to $16,395
Cost of apartment-style: $8,405 to $10,500

Standout programs

Public Humanities and Heritage: Students take part in field placements in museums, archives and heritage sites in Paris and Berlin, as well as Nova Scotia. 

Sports Business: In this new program at the Sobey School of Business, students learn from business and social science professors and work at non-profits and sports organizations for their co-ops. 

Engineering: Students build a foundation in math, physics, technical writing and design in small classes and modern labs for the first two years of their degree, before transferring to Dalhousie for the final two years. 

Reputation

Ranked #5 (Primarily Undergraduate) among faculty members and hiring managers in the 2025 reputation survey, powered by Angus Reid Group.