Preparing Women to Lead for more than 160 years

Excellence in academics
With a challenging academic atmosphere and a strong support system, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is recognized as a proven leader in educating women for professional roles. The College offers more than 30 majors, a wide selection of courses, International Exchange program, extensive career development resources and opportunities to cross-enroll in courses at nearby institutions.

SMWC's highly personalized liberal arts education is designed to last a lifetime and to provide students with the flexibility and confidence necessary to succeed in an ever-changing world. Through small, seminar-style classes, hands-on learning opportunities and one-on-one tutorials with professors, students become self-directed learners with the ability to think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively.

Leadership opportunities
SMWC offers a vibrant campus environment with exceptional opportunities for students to get involved. Approximately 30 campus organizations, including academic clubs, honorary societies, performing groups, campus publications, student government and special-interest clubs and organizations, are available for students with varying interests. If a club or organization does not exist to meet a student's interests, she is encouraged to work with the Student Development staff to create a new club.

SMWC values intellectual development while emphasizing students' social, emotional and physical development as well. Involvement in campus clubs and organizations helps students to develop valuable skills-teamwork, leadership, and communication-that are important in any career. SMWC prides itself on giving students every opportunity to achieve success, to redefine the possible, and to determine their own path.

Tradition and innovation
Founded in 1840 by Blessed Mother Theodore Guerin and five other Sisters of Providence, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College is the oldest Catholic liberal arts college for women in the United States.

People visiting SMWC for the first time are impressed not only by our picturesque 67-acre campus, but also because we provide what many women are looking for in a college: a rich liberal arts education, affordability, an ideal location in the Midwest, individual attention, a rich experience for both residents and commuters, a value-centered education in a Catholic tradition, quality athletic programs, and a wide variety of student leadership activities.

SMWC has also established itself as a leader in preparing and educating women. SMWC was the first women's college to offer courses in journalism and the first to offer degree work in secondary education. This tradition continues today as academic offerings are constantly being updated to keep pace with demands in society.

Strength in diversity
Since its founding 160 years ago, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College has been a place where women who recognize the value of learning from people of diverse ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds come to learn about themselves, their neighbors, and the world at large.

The College is committed to providing women with a challenging academic environment, leadership and volunteer opportunities, field experiences, and strong heritage and traditions. Students are encouraged to think across disciplinary boundaries, take intellectual and creative risks and blend their academic experiences with their own values, beliefs and concerns. By combining a challenging and fulfilling academic atmosphere with a heightened awareness of the strength found in diversity, SMWC prepares women for a lifetime of leading, learning, working and serving the world.

Athletics
SMWC students have a reputation for excelling in the classroom, but they are also known for their hard work and efforts on the field, the court, and in the arena. The College fields teams in basketball, soccer and softball through the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, and The Woods also has an equestrian team that competes in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association.

Whatever the sport, SMWC is dedicated to promoting athletic excellence and sportsmanship. All teams have achieved significant levels of success, including the equestrian team, which finished as high as seventh in the IHSA National Competition, and the softball team, which has won national championships four out of the last seven years.

Affordable private education
Because the rising cost of education is a significant consideration for many students and their families when selecting a college, SMWC has made a major commitment to making a private education affordable. In fact, the College thrives today as one of the most affordable Catholic colleges for women from the Northeast through the Midwest.

With more than 90 percent of SMWC students receiving financial aid, the College offers a variety of financial aid options that include merit-based scholarship, need-based grants, activity-based scholarships and grants, state and federal aid, work-study, and loans. To be considered for all types of financial aid, students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 

AT A GLANCE
Founded: 1840, by the Sisters of Providence
President: Dr. Joan Lescinski, CSJ (1998- present)
Type of College: Nation's oldest Catholic liberal arts college for women
Campus Location: Five miles northwest of Terre Haute, Indiana
Campus Size: 67-acre wooded, rural setting, including a fitness trail
Faculty: More than 67% have a terminal degree.
Student-Faculty Ratio: 12:1
Enrollment: Total students 1,612. Approximately 335 are campus-based students; 1,160 are students in the Women's External Degree program. The remainder are women and men enrolled in graduate programs in Earth Literacy, Pastoral Theology, Art Therapy, and Music Therapy.
Accreditation: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools through the Higher Learning Commission
Costs: For the 2002-2003 year, tuition, fees, room, and board total $22,379.
Financial Aid: Approximately 90% of all students receive financial assistance.
Visit our Website: www.smwc.edu

Application: You can apply on-line at:
http://www.smwc.edu/cgi-bin/site.pl?futureUndergrad