Apply to St. Mary’s Graduate Programs

After you submit your application, you will need to submit a letter(s) of recommendation using the application portal. In the portal, enter your recommender’s information (name and email address), and they will receive a link to upload their letter of recommendation. The letter will then be attached to your application. You will see status updates on the application portal regarding the submission.

You may choose for your recommender to submit their letter of recommendation by mail to:

St. Mary’s University
Graduate Admission
One Camino Santa Maria
San Antonio, TX 78228

The number of recommendations required for your application will depend on the program. Most master’s programs require two letters of recommendation, while most graduate certificate programs require one or zero. The doctoral program requires three letters of recommendation.

Letters of recommendation should be written by individuals who can address your intellectual competence and potential for success (e.g., professors, employers, etc.). Recommendations must be written on institutional/business letterhead.

After you submit your application, you will need to submit a statement of purpose through the application portal. In the portal, you will see a dropdown section to upload your statement of purpose.

The statement of purpose should identify your reasons for pursuing a graduate degree, your experience in the field and your plans for the degree upon graduation.

The GRE/GMAT/MAT test is optional for prospective students applying to most graduate programs (non-law). However, if you choose to submit test scores, they should be sent directly from the testing agency by adding St. Mary’s University to your list of schools to receive the test score(s). St. Mary’s University school code is 6637. You may email a copy of your results to the Graduate Admission team at graduate@stmarytx.edu, and our team will verify the authenticity of the document.

Test scores are valid for five years after the test date. Tests may be waived for students who already have a graduate degree. The appropriate test should be taken before registration; however, for some degree programs, tests may be taken during the first semester of enrollment, with continued enrollment contingent upon test results.

Transcript(s) or International Credentials

International applicants who have attended a (non-U.S.) college/university outside of the United States must send their transcript to a separate evaluation agency for a detailed, course-by-course evaluation and official translation of the credentials and the agency sends the evaluation to St. Mary’s University. The evaluation agency should be a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).

For more information, visit the International Student Admission page.

International Student Language Proficiency Requirements

Minimum of 6.0 on IELTS for all graduate programs (except MBA: applicants require 6.5 on IELTS)
Minimum of 80 on TOEFL for all graduate programs (except MBA: applicants require 87 on TOEFL )
Minimum of 115 on Duolingo English Test (except MBA: applicants require 120 on Duolingo English Test)

Once you are accepted to St. Mary’s, you will need to submit your Graduate Enrollment Confirmation Form online and enrollment deposit.

Accepted graduate students who intend to enroll at St. Mary’s University are required to submit a $100 non-refundable graduate enrollment deposit online to reserve their seat in the entering class. This non-refundable enrollment deposit will be applied to the student’s account when they begin academic course work at St. Mary’s as reflected on the first semester statement.

The following groups of students are eligible for a deposit waiver:

Currently enrolled St. Mary’s University students who are accepted to a Combined Degree Program or Joint Degree Program, or who are simultaneously pursuing a master’s degree and graduate certificate
Eligible military personnel
Current St. Mary’s University employees

Graduate students who are accepted and who intend to enroll at St. Mary’s will receive access to the payment portal when they complete the Graduate Enrollment Confirmation Process and indicate their intention to enroll. Both the Graduate Enrollment Confirmation Form and the payment portal are made available to students upon receipt of their official offer of admission to the University and can be found in the St. Mary’s University Application Portal.

Should you have any questions about the required $100 non-refundable graduate enrollment deposit, please contact the Office of Graduate Admission at 210-436-3126 or graduate@stmarytx.edu.

Chaminade Hall is a 21+ residence hall open to graduate students. The residence hall offers private, single rooms and suited bathrooms, lounges, study spaces and baking stations. After you are accepted to St. Mary’s, you may apply to student housing using the Housing Application Portal.

Incoming graduate students should attend an online Graduate Student Orientation session, scheduled before their first day of class. You will receive more information via your St. Mary’s email.