Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mary Baldwin University #723 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,365 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 77.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mary Baldwin University #1233 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions — reflecting strong outcomes for students from diverse backgrounds. --- Mary Baldwin University's composite ranking reflects balanced performance across Azimuth's pillars of return, access, and mobility. The institution earns about $5,365 more than similar students at comparable institutions demonstrates meaningful financial outcomes for graduates relative to peer institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mary Baldwin University #723 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in Staunton, Virginia, Mary Baldwin University enrolls roughly 1,090 undergraduates. Retention is 66.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 39.3%, reflecting solid student persistence through degree completion. Where Mary Baldwin University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Mary Baldwin University #966 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,402, and Mary Baldwin University sits in the 77.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's strength in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways. Access and affordability anchor the remaining pillars of the composite. Mary Baldwin University enrolls 55.3% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 40.0% first-generation students, positioning the institution in the 79.4 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 70.2 percentile, reflecting the institution's private tuition structure and the aid strategies it deploys to support enrolled students. Mobility outcomes, measured by how well low-income and first-generation graduates progress economically, place Mary Baldwin University in the 16.6 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Published cost of attendance is $45,935. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $12,717, middle-income families pay around $11,537, higher-income families pay approximately $14,806. Azimuth ranks Mary Baldwin University #425 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 70.2 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,586; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,376. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,402, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $300 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Mary Baldwin University is a strong fit for students seeking a small private university experience in VA with a focus on Business and related fields. The university's intimate scale and regional setting appeal to those who prefer a tight-knit academic community outside major urban centers. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $51,402, placing Mary Baldwin University in the 11.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $5,365 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 77.2 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 55.3% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 40.0% are first-generation. This access cohort completes degrees at a rate of 44.8%, reflecting the institution's commitment to supporting students from diverse backgrounds. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix leans heavily toward Business (20% of degrees), and the small size means fewer specialized offerings outside core areas. Students aligned with these strengths will find a focused academic environment with solid regional outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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This is the Mary Baldwin University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
13 graduates
Health and Medical Administrative Services
5 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
53 graduates
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
31 graduates
Criminology
22 graduates
Mary Baldwin University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts college with applied career focus. Business Administration is the largest program with 53 graduates, followed by Social Work, General Studies, Psychology, General, and Criminology.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 292 students annually, the institution concentrates its degree output in Business (representing 20% of graduates) and Social Sciences (representing 13% of graduates). The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied professional fields.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $97,279 four years after enrollment, followed by Business Administration at $58,459, General Studies at $50,117, and Criminology at $47,117. Among the most popular programs, Business Administration graduates earn $58,459 four years after enrollment, while Social Work graduates earn $46,971, demonstrating that the institution's largest programs deliver solid early-career financial outcomes.
Mary Baldwin University's program portfolio reflects a direct-to-workforce orientation, with most graduates entering professional and business-related careers rather than pursuing graduate or professional school pathways. The concentration in Business and related applied fields positions graduates for immediate labor-market entry and earnings growth in sectors with stable demand.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national labor-market trends.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Published cost of attendance is $45,935. After need-based aid, low-income families pay approximately $12,717, middle-income families pay around $11,537, higher-income families pay approximately $14,806.
Azimuth ranks Mary Baldwin University #425 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, in the 70.2 percentile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,586; families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $16,376.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $51,402, median federal debt projects to a monthly payment of about $300 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios, use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Graduates of Mary Baldwin University earn median 4-year earnings of $51,402, placing Mary Baldwin University in the 11.3 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $5,365 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mary Baldwin University in the 77.2 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mary Baldwin University #966 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Mary Baldwin University's concentration in business and professional fields.
Business Administration is the largest program with 53 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $58,459, performing at 0.9x the national benchmark for the field. The Social Work program graduates 33 students earning $46,971, while General Studies with 31 graduates reaches $50,117.
These programs anchor the institution's return profile, with Business Administration combining substantial enrollment scale with solid earnings outcomes that drive the overall financial return story.
