Mount St. Mary’s University

“The most meaningful part of attending the Mount was the support I received from the faculty; they helped me with everything from fitting in a semester abroad to navigating my changing career plans.”
– Maddalena Petillo, C’25

Small class sizes, a low student-to-teacher ratio, and faculty who prioritize teaching all provide immersive, hands-on academics. Classes are organized to favor discussion, feedback, and iterative work. The Mount’s liberal arts core courses tie each major to writing, analysis and self-discovery, prioritizing the development of critical thinking and interdisciplinary skills. 

Mentorship runs alongside coursework. Professors help students scope research questions, refine portfolios, and link assignments to community partners or clients. Science labs, simulation suites, and communication studios are used to connect theory with practice, and students are aided in improving their work until it stands up to external expectations. The emphasis falls on both understanding and execution.

From the second I stepped onto campus I felt an overwhelming sense of happiness and joy. I quickly discovered the feeling was from the people that make up the Mount, the professors, the students, the staff, and the community. Mount St. Mary’s is the most special place to me because it’s where I discovered myself through the love and guidance of those around me.”
– Emily DiGiovanni, C’25

Student life gathers momentum through residence life, faith and service opportunities, music and arts, and a full slate of organizations. The National Shrine Grotto provides a distinctive place for reflection, while the trails and vistas of the Catoctins encourage time outdoors. Nearby Frederick adds internships, arts, and food to the weekly mix.

School spirit is a constant. Mountaineer teams compete in NCAA Division I within the MAAC, and game days bring the campus together. For students who prefer building and leading, the entrepreneurship hub and student clubs offer projects with real responsibility that translate cleanly to internships and interviews.

SCHOOL LOCATION
Nestled on 1400 acres in the Catoctin Mountains, Mount St. Mary’s University is located in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The peaceful mountain campus features multiple trails and several beautiful, historic buildings. The Town of Emmitsburg is just outside Catoctin Mountain Park, and includes two national shrines, the National Shrine of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, and the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, which is part of the Mount’s campus.

Shopping, internships, museums, and more are all an easy distance—Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, are all within an hour of the Mount.

ATHLETICS
Mount St. Mary’s is an NCAA Division 1 school and member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). With around one third of the undergraduate population being student athletes, athletics form a major part of campus life and identity, and the university is dedicated to supporting the academic life of athletes. 

Varsity sports include baseball, softball, track and field (men’s and women’s), swimming and diving (men’s and women’s), basketball (men’s and women’s), cross country (men’s and women’s), lacrosse (men’s and women’s), soccer (men’s and women’s), rugby (men’s and women’s), golf (men’s and women’s), tennis (men’s and women’s), water polo (men’s and women’s), women’s bowling, women’s flag football, and esports.

“I have wanted to work in the mental health field since high school. Psychology seemed a given, and I added human services to improve my skills in connection and community. The Mount has given me fantastic foundations on which to build my future career, as well as a community that absolutely has my back!”
– Catherine Fischer, C’25

Career development is continuous and lifelong. The Career Center provides coaching, résumé and interview support, networking events, and Handshake listings that surface roles across central Maryland. Policies make it straightforward to earn credit for on- or off-campus experiences linked to a student’s major.

Several pathways are especially clear. Cybersecurity is detailed in the academic catalog, pre-health students can follow structured routes into partner nursing programs, and the School of Health Professions offers a view of graduate-level options. Entrepreneurship resources help students convert ideas into tested projects, which adds evidence of leadership and initiative to each graduate’s portfolio. References come from supervisors who have already seen students’ work, and contacts extend from campus into the Baltimore–Washington region.

Admission

ADMISSIONS INFORMATION
To be considered for admission, first-year students must complete a free online application using either the Mount Application or Common Application. As part of our holistic review we consider the following additional materials to complete the application package:

• High School Transcript(s) – Required
• Recommendations – Optional
• Standardized Test Scores – Optional
• Essay/Personal Statement – Optional

TEST SCORES
Optional

FRESHMAN PROFILE
SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing
25th Percentile: 520 | 75th Percentile: 660
SAT Math
25th Percentile: 510 | 75th Percentile: 620
ACT Composite
25th Percentile: 19 | 75th Percentile: 23

Tuition & Cost

Tuition: $45,660
Fees: $1,580
Room: $7,500
Board: $7,250

Aid

First-year student applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships when they apply. This year, our merit scholarships range from $27,000 to $35,000 per year.