Today, the Board of Trustees of St. Mary’s College of Maryland announced for the second consecutive year a freeze in tuition and fees for the 2021-2022 academic year. The Board also approved a new marine science major.
Tuition and Fees
At the recommendation of the Finance, Investment, and Audit Committee, the Board of Trustees authorized student rates for tuition and fees for academic year 2021-2022 to remain equal to 2020-2021 rates. The Board also authorized an increase of 2 percent for room and board (dining) rates for 2021-2022. Last year’s tuition freeze was made after a review of recommendations from a Board of Trustees Task Force, formed in 2019 at the request of President Tuajuanda C. Jordan. The Task Force studied how the College, as a public institution that is focused on providing an outstanding education, could ensure greater access to students.
“St. Mary’s College understands the cost of college is a serious concern and we are committed to easing that burden on families,” said Lex Birney, chair of the Board of Trustees. “Extending this tuition freeze for a second year will make a compelling difference for students who have the academic qualifications to study at the College, but not the corresponding resources.”
Current tuition, fees, room and board for an in-state student totals $28,719, and $44,795 for a non-Maryland resident.
“As the National Public Honors College, St. Mary’s College of Maryland offers a distinctive education experience through our LEAD (Learning Through Experiential and Applied Discovery) initiative, and the career planning and academic programs we offer. It is an enviable value for our students which is now strengthened by this freeze,” said President Jordan.
Marine Science Major
The marine science major came about through a year-long process that reviewed proposals for new majors as part of the College’s strategic planning. The new major will embrace the College’s waterfront environment with the use of the St. Mary’s River and Chesapeake Bay to create a one-of-a-kind program that will be unique, rigorous, and innovative. Because of the location of St. Mary’s College on the St. Mary’s River and because of the College’s close association with the St. Mary’s River Watershed Association, many opportunities exist for marine science that are not available at the other Maryland higher education institutions. Marine science will consist of a rigorous curriculum of foundational physics, chemistry, and biology courses along with advanced courses that utilize the campus’ resources.
“I am excited that the SMCM Board of Trustees has approved the first undergraduate marine science major in the state. In many ways, the Chesapeake represents the cultural and economic heart of Maryland. Our shoreline location and talented faculty make marine science a natural fit for St. Mary’s College of Maryland. We look forward to working with various stakeholders to roll out a robust, dynamic, and academically rigorous program in the near future,” said Randy Larsen, professor of chemistry and coordinator of the environmental studies program.
The major will create new in-state opportunities for Maryland students. The state of Maryland belongs to the Academic Commons Marketplace (ACM), which is a consortium of several southeastern states. It allows a student from one state to attend another state’s public universities and pay in-state tuition if the student’s major is not offered in their home state. According to the Maryland Higher Education Commission records, nearly 1,000 Maryland students used the ACM and left the state to enroll in undergraduate programs in marine science and marine biology between 2008-2018.
Pending approval by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the marine science major will be offered in fall 2021, along with the new neuroscience major approved by the Board in October 2020. In development are two additional majors: applied data science and business administration.
