St. Mary's College of California is a private, co-ed university affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church and administered by the De La Salle Christian Brothers. Established in 1863, the college moved to its current location, about 10 miles east of Oakland, in 1928 and served as a training center for naval aviators during World War II.
Once a sports powerhouse with its teams facing some of the top schools in the country, St. Mary's has since settled for consistent showings in the West Coast Conference (WCC) and periodic forays to the NCAA. In 2010, its men's basketball team advanced to the NCAA "Sweet Sixteen" before losing to Baylor. The women's softball team also made it to NCAA play this year, falling to UCLA in first round play.
There are presently four schools of study at Saint Mary's, the School of Liberal Arts, the School of Science, the School of Economics and Business Administration (SEBA) and the School of Education.
Along with its academic and sports programs, St. Mary's is also known for its distinctive early California architecture and pastoral setting. Many students who attend the college eventually end up settling in the area upon graduation. The nightly carillon of bells, "The Bells of St. Mary's", is a pleasant ritual and welcome sound on campus and throughout the surrounding neighborhoods.