Where Prestige Meets Opportunity
As the National Public Honors College and the first stand-alone public honors college in the U.S., this is where a top-ranked liberal arts & sciences education is personalized, experiential, and uncommonly worth it.
#5 National Public Liberal Arts College (U.S. News & World Report, 2026)
#13 Friendliest Students (The Princeton Review, 2026)*
A Best College for Your Money (Money Magazine)
Professors are More than Teachers
Our incredible world-class faculty are advisors, advocates, confidants and friends.
Learning through Experiential and Applied Discovery (LEAD)
Our LEAD curriculum is an all-encompassing, hands-on pathway that will prepare you for whatever your next step is—research, graduate school, or the workforce.
Prestige + Opportunity = Success
Receive a top-ranked educational experience on par with the best private liberal arts colleges, at the cost of a public institution. Plus, 94% (5-year average) of students are employed/in graduate school six months after graduation.
”I was a high-level academic student in my high school…so I wanted to find a school that could match my level.”
Jaedon Aso '26, artBecome a Seahawk!
Applying is your first step toward an honors education and learning why "Life is Better by the River."
Come experience Seahawk life for yourself! When you visit, you'll qualify for our Discover SMCM Grant—$1,000 for MD & DC students or $2,000 if you're from out of state.
Plan Your Visit
Find Out How You Start Here to Get There
Learn more about St. Mary's College of Maryland's top-ranked honors education, beautiful waterfront campus, scholarships and more.
The Right Choice
Graduating from college is proven to lead to more career opportunities, better health, a broader worldview, higher earning potential, and so much more.
