Admit rate has ranged 72%–82% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Mount St. Mary's University in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is a Catholic liberal arts institution that defines itself by a tight-knit, residential community and a pragmatic approach to career-focused education. With a notably accessible admissions process and a curriculum heavily tilted toward business and the social sciences, the Mount offers a traditional, campus-centric college experience where faith and community are woven into daily life. It’s a place for students seeking a supportive, structured environment with a clear path to solid post-graduate outcomes.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
1,768
In-state tuition
$48,630
Out-of-state tuition
$48,630
Top Majors
Business (23%), Social Sciences (16%)
Graduation Rate
65%
Living On-Campus
73%
Average Aid Package
$42,519
Median Earnings (10yr)
$64,072
Financial Aid Recipients
100% of undergraduates
Student-to-Faculty Ratio
8:1
First-Year Retention Rate
71%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$64,072
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.8×
Median debt at graduation
$25,391
Graduation rate
65%
First-year retention
71%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
75%
Pell (lower-income) share
31%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
23%
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Accounting and Related Services$56,157
Business/Commerce, General$45,249
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$42,682
Communication and Media Studies$40,896
Research and Experimental Psychology$37,748
Criminology
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
2.13
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
84°F
Winter low
29°F
Annual rain
47.5"
Annual snow
20"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
46
Scholarly works
309
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Mount St. Mary's University?
Mount St. Mary's University's acceptance rate is approximately 74% (Emmitsburg, MD), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Mount St. Mary's University?
Admitted students at Mount St. Mary's University typically score 1046–1280 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Mount St. Mary's University cost?
At Mount St. Mary's University, the average net price (after aid) is about $22,655 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Mount St. Mary's University?
Mount St. Mary's University enrolls approximately 1,768 undergraduate students.
Where is Mount St. Mary's University located?
Mount St. Mary's University is located in Emmitsburg, MD.
Admissions
Mount St. Mary's operates with a highly accessible admissions process, accepting a significant majority of its applicants. The university is , meaning students may submit SAT or ACT scores but they are not required for admission or scholarship consideration. The admitted student profile shows a middle 50% SAT range of 1046–1280 and an ACT range of 19–27, with a strong emphasis on high school GPA—39% of admitted students had a GPA of 3.75 or higher. The rate—the percentage of admitted students who enroll—is reported to be around 12%, which is typical for institutions in this selectivity range. The regular decision application deadline is March 1. While the provided sources reference early decision and early action plans at other similarly named institutions, no specific Early Decision or share of the class filled via ED is confirmed for Mount St. Mary's University (MD) in the allowed sources.
Test Policy: Test-optional (SAT/ACT not required).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$37,363
Sociology$35,952
International Relations and National Security Studies$35,060
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics at the Mount are defined by a career-oriented liberal arts curriculum with a notably intimate scale; the student-to-faculty ratio is reported as 8:1. The university offers more than 70 majors, minors, and concentrations. The program mix is decidedly practical, with business, management, marketing, and related support services dominating as the most popular field of study for recent graduates (23%). Social sciences (16%) and computer and information sciences are also among the top majors. This creates an academic environment where traditional liberal arts subjects intersect with pre-professional training. The most popular majors reflect this blend, including business, criminology, biology, and information science.
Life at the Mount is overwhelmingly residential and community-focused, with 73% of students living in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing. The university promotes living on campus as an integral part of the experience, designed to immerse students in the 'Mount culture.' A cornerstone of this culture is the Center for Campus Ministry, described as one of the largest student life groups on campus, featuring over 20 clubs and organizations. This underscores the institution's Catholic identity as a active, lived component of daily life rather than a historical footnote. The overall vibe, as suggested by descriptions of similarly named institutions, leans toward a peaceful, tight-knit community—a characterization that fits the Mount's residential nature and smaller size.
Mount St. Mary's graduates see solid financial returns on their education. A 2020 study highlighted that after 40 years, Mount graduates had earned $1,056,000 in net economic gains, ranking 405th out of 4,529 colleges and universities nationally. The first-year retention rate is reported at 71%. In terms of early-career earnings, one source notes graduates earn about $42,000 on average initially, which is described as expected given the mix of majors. The university's focus on business and practical fields likely contributes to these stable outcomes.
The Mount is aggressive with financial aid, using it as a key tool to attract students. The university awards numerous academic scholarships ranging from $20,000 to full tuition. According to one source, the average Mount student receives $30,000 in financial aid, and every traditional undergraduate applicant is automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. is also available, with the average need-based scholarship or grant award reported as $37,617, and the average total aid package at $42,519. The university provides a Calculator for families to estimate their out-of-pocket costs, and completing the FAFSA is required for federal and need-based aid consideration. One source indicates that 100% of undergraduate students receive financial aid, with 27% benefiting from federal Pell grants.
Mount St. Mary's stands out for its distinctive fusion of a traditional, residential Catholic liberal arts education with a fiercely pragmatic, career-focused curriculum. It’s not an ivory tower; it’s a training ground where business and social science majors dominate, faith is actively practiced through a large campus ministry, and community is enforced by the fact that nearly three-quarters of students live on campus. The university knows its identity: it offers a supportive, structured environment with a high , substantial , and a clear value proposition centered on post-graduate economic mobility, as evidenced by its strong ranking for long-term net economic gains for graduates. It’s a choice for students who want the classic American college experience—complete with dorm life and community traditions—paired with a direct line to a professional career.
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