St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM), the National Public Honors College, saw its rankings increase in multiple areas according to the 2025 "Best Value Colleges" list released by The Princeton Review this week.
The Princeton Review chose 209 schools for its 2025 "Best Value Colleges" list. The selections were primarily based on data from the company's surveys of administrators at more than 650 colleges in 2024–2025. Criteria covered everything from academics, cost and financial aid, to graduation rates and student debt. While The Princeton Review does not rank the entire list, SMCM also entered the company's "Top 50 Best Value Colleges" among public schools this year, coming in at #45. SMCM was also highlighted at #2 on the list of "Top 20 Best Schools for Making an Impact" among public colleges. This list - on which SMCM rose two places from its 2024 ranking - is based on student survey results in the area of community service opportunities, student government, sustainability efforts and on-campus student engagement.
“It’s no surprise to me that SMCM is ranked so highly for Making an Impact. You really feel it here—whether it’s through student leadership, activism, or just the tight-knit community, everyone has a chance to contribute in a real way,” said Jaedon Aso, a senior art major and student-athlete from Great Mills, Maryland. “Being recognized as a Best Value College too just proves that you can get a top-tier, meaningful education without the massive price tag. I’m proud to be part of a school that lives up to those values.”
The company also factored in data from its surveys of students attending the schools as well as data from PayScale.com’s surveys of alumni of the schools about their starting and mid-career salaries and job satisfaction.
In all, The Princeton Review crunched more than 40 data points to tally ROI (Return on Investment) ratings of the colleges. Those ratings were the primary bases for the company's selection of schools as Best Value Colleges.
“These rankings solidify something that everyone who steps on campus can feel: St. Mary's is a special place that goes above and beyond the expected higher education experience,” said Sierra Brown, a junior double-majoring in English and psychology from Catonsville, Maryland. “My experiences on campus have shaped my identity as a student, but more importantly as a person, and I hope these rankings will inform and attract others to the unique opportunities provided by St. Mary's College of Maryland.”
SMCM was one of only two Maryland public colleges to appear on either the "Top 50 Best Value Colleges" or "Top 20 Best Schools for Making an Impact" lists.
The accolades add to numerous highlights in national rankings. SMCM ranks as the #5 best national public liberal arts college in U.S. News & World Report's "2025 Best Colleges" list. In its Guide to Green Schools - published separately from the Best Value Colleges list - The Princeton Review ranked SMCM #14 nationally on its "Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation" list. Niche named SMCM to its "Best Liberal Arts Colleges in America" list, and ranked the College #1 for "Best College Food in Maryland" and #2 for "Best Small Colleges in Maryland." Read more about SMCM's national rankings on the College website at https://www.smcm.edu/about/college-rankings/.
