Mount St. Mary's University
#2 Best Business Colleges in MarylandBottom line: A B- overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 20.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $20.3 over 20 years. Ranked #2 in Best Business Colleges in Maryland.
Every $1 spent returns $20.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,746,507.
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What The Data Says
A B- overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
Graduates earn 57% more than the national college median.
Social mobility rate of 6.39% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
Every $1 invested returns $20.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Mount St. Mary's University Matters
Mount St. Mary's University is a private university in Emmitsburg, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 1,768
- Setting
- Rural
- Designations
- 30
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Social Sciences, Computer Science & IT, Biology & Biomedical
Why students choose Mount St. Mary's University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 74% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1046–1280. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $22,655 a year after grants and scholarships — 32% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $64,072 ten years after enrolling — 57% above the typical college, against $25,391 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 6.4% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 1% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.78 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Mount St. Mary's University might be a great fit for students looking for a close-knit community and a diverse range of academic programs. With an enrollment of just under 1,800 students, it emphasizes personalized learning. You’ll find strong offerings in Business and Marketing, Social Sciences, Computer Science and IT, as well as Biology, Biomedical, and Health Professions. This variety allows students to explore their interests in practical, career-oriented fields.
Looking ahead to life after graduation, the data shows that graduates earn an average of $64,072 within a decade of finishing their degree. That’s a solid starting point that reflects the university’s focus on preparing students for the workforce. The affordability factor is also worth noting; with a net price of $22,655 after financial aid, it’s relatively accessible. Although 31% of students receive Pell Grants, this indicates that there’s a commitment to support those with financial needs.
When it comes to the bottom line, students graduate with a median debt of $25,391, which is manageable compared to many other institutions. Those who thrive here tend to be proactive and engaged in their studies, taking advantage of the smaller class sizes and resources available. If you’re someone who appreciates a supportive environment and a practical approach to education, Mount St. Mary's could be a solid choice.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Mount St. Mary's University is — and how your numbers stack up.
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Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mount St. Mary's University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Mount St. Mary's University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 74% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,176. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 62%.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mount St. Mary's University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
When weighing the true cost of attending Mount St. Mary's University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $48,630 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,655 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,603 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,391.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Mount St. Mary's University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mount St. Mary's University earn a median of $64,072, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
How Mount Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Mount St. Mary's University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Mount St. Mary's University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $22,655/year ($90,620 total). Graduates earn $64,072 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,837,127 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,746,507 (20.3× your investment). The median debt is $25,391, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 62% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Mount St. Mary's University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mount St. Mary's University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 6.39%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 21.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $48,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Mount St. Mary's University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Mount St. Mary's University's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mount St. Mary's University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Mount St. Mary's University keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 74% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,176. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 62%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mount St. Mary's University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Mount St. Mary's University, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $48,630 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $22,655 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $11,603 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $25,391.
Is Mount St. Mary's University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Mount St. Mary's University earn a median of $64,072, roughly in line with national averages for graduates.
Does Mount St. Mary's University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes +
Mount St. Mary's University is a genuine engine of upward mobility: its mobility rate — the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top — is 6.39%, among the highest in the country. Access is a real strength here: roughly 21.2% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a genuine foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 30.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $48,500, a useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Mount St. Mary's University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks +
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Mount St. Mary's University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Mount St. Mary's University.
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Mount St. Mary's University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital — the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility — runs high at Mount St. Mary's University, with an economic connectedness score of 1.78 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.01), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note