Mount Saint Mary's University admits 68.7% of applicants, meaning roughly 2 in 3 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places the institution in the Moderately Selective category, making admission more accessible than highly competitive universities while maintaining academic standards. The peer median admission rate of 75.6% indicates Mount Saint Mary's is slightly more selective than typical institutions serving similar student populations. This selectivity level provides prospective students with reasonable admission prospects while ensuring academic preparation standards. Students with solid academic records should view Mount Saint Mary's as a realistic admission target rather than a reach school. The moderately selective admission rate combines with the university's health sciences focus, meaning applicants interested in nursing and related fields will find more predictable admission outcomes than at highly competitive programs. For students building college lists, Mount Saint Mary's represents a solid match school where qualified applicants can expect favorable admission consideration. The 68.7% acceptance rate means students should still present strong applications, but admission uncertainty remains lower than at highly selective institutions.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
Mount Saint Mary's enrolls a diverse student body with substantial representation from underrepresented backgrounds. The university serves 55.1% Pell-eligible students, indicating more than half the student body comes from families with significant financial need. First-generation college students represent 49.7% of enrollment, meaning nearly half of students are the first in their families to attend college. Transfer students comprise 28.1% of the student body, reflecting the institution's openness to students from community colleges and other four-year institutions. This composition suggests Mount Saint Mary's prioritizes educational access and opportunity for students from diverse economic and educational backgrounds. The high Pell share exceeds most private institutions, indicating strong financial aid support and institutional commitment to affordability despite higher sticker prices. First-generation students should note that nearly half their peers will share similar family backgrounds and college navigation experiences. Transfer applicants should recognize the substantial transfer population, suggesting established support systems and curriculum designed for students transitioning from other institutions. This student composition reflects Mount Saint Mary's Mobility Engine designation, serving populations with potential for significant economic advancement through higher education.
With a 68.7% acceptance rate, Mount Saint Mary's provides reasonable admission prospects for qualified students, though applicants should still build comprehensive college lists including various selectivity levels.
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Mount Saint Mary's maintains a 74.0% retention rate, meaning roughly 3 in 4 freshmen return for sophomore year, slightly above the peer median of 73.9%. The six-year graduation rate reaches 53.4%, below the peer median of 54.9% but reflecting the challenges facing the diverse student population served. Pell-eligible students graduate at 64.7%, creating an 11.3 percentage point advantage over the overall completion rate. This positive Pell gap indicates the institution provides stronger support systems and outcomes for lower-income students compared to the general population. The higher Pell completion rate suggests Mount Saint Mary's delivers on its mission to serve students from lower-income backgrounds effectively. Students who gain admission can expect institutional support systems designed for first-generation and Pell-eligible populations, given the positive outcomes for these groups. Prospective students should consider that while overall completion rates remain moderate, the university demonstrates particular effectiveness with students from backgrounds similar to the majority of its enrollment. The positive Pell gap represents an unusual and noteworthy strength among higher education institutions, where lower-income students typically face greater completion challenges.
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