For access among nonprofit four-year institutions
For mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mount St. Mary's University #993 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,311 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 20.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mount St. Mary's University #810 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 45.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mount St. Mary's University's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes across its business-focused program mix. These results combine with the institution's private-college scale to support meaningful career pathways for graduates.
Azimuth ranks Mount St. Mary's University #993 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 32.9 percentile for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Emmitsburg, Maryland, Mount St. Mary's University enrolls roughly 1,768 undergraduates. Retention is 70.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 65.4%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a residential liberal arts–focused institution. Mount St. Mary's University performs strongest in return on investment. Azimuth ranks Mount St. Mary's University #810 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 45.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $64,424. The institution sits in the 20.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, meaning graduates earn about $10,311 less than similar students at comparable institutions. This earnings advantage reflects Mount St. Mary's University's strength in Business and related professional fields, which drive strong early-career outcomes and sustained upward mobility. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Mount St. Mary's University enrolls 31.1% Pell-eligible undergraduates and 23.3% first-generation students, positioning the institution in the 31.4 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability ranks in the 26.9 percentile, reflecting the tuition and net-price structure typical of private master's universities. For families seeking a smaller, residential institution with strong return on investment and solid completion rates, Mount St. Mary's University offers a coherent value proposition anchored in professional program outcomes and manageable scale.
Mount St. Mary's University's published cost of attendance is $63,731. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $11,603, middle-income families pay around $21,942, and higher-income families pay approximately $31,330. Azimuth ranks Mount St. Mary's University #1042 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 26.9 percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Mount St. Mary's structures aid through need-based and merit-based programs, with families applying through the FAFSA. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay. For families seeking to understand how their specific circumstances affect net price, the institution's financial aid office can provide personalized estimates based on household income and assets. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,391, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,721; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,424, median federal debt of $25,391 projects to a monthly payment of about $287 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Mount St. Mary's University is a strong fit for students seeking a private university experience anchored in business and related fields in MD, with outcomes that earn about $10,311 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing it in the 20.1 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university enrolls a mix of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 31.1% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 23.3% are first-generation — with published aid policies that support completion rates above national norms. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 73.8% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields that represent 28% of degree output. Students whose interests align with these areas will find the strongest 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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Mount St. Mary's University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Computer and Information Sciences, General
22 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
43 graduates
Biology, General
21 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
106 graduates
Criminology
40 graduates
Mount St. Mary's University's program mix centers on business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's identity as a private liberal arts university with applied career focus.
Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 106 graduates, followed by Accounting, Criminology, Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other, and Teacher Education. Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 507 students annually, the portfolio emphasizes business, accounting, and management-track fields aligned with regional employer demand.
The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and accounting fields. Artificial Intelligence leads with median earnings of $87,360 four years after enrollment, followed by Accounting at $81,796, Biology, General at $76,062, Business/Commerce, General at $74,839, and Criminology at $60,428.
This earnings pattern reflects Mount St. Mary's University's concentration in Business — representing 28% of graduates — alongside Social Sciences at 16% and Education at 6%.
The largest programs by enrollment, such as Business/Commerce, General with 106 graduates earning $74,839, and Accounting with 43 graduates, deliver solid early-career outcomes aligned with the institution's professional-preparation mission. Most of Mount St.
Mary's University's dominant programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly in accounting, finance, business administration, and management roles. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these business-focused fields align with regional labor-market demand in the Mid-Atlantic.
For students prioritizing early-career earnings and direct workforce entry in applied business fields, the program mix offers consistent outcomes across the institution's core offerings.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William Carey University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#28234 ranked) | MS | 60% | $43,087 | #28234 | Compare |
John Carroll University Similar quality tier (#28229 ranked) | OH | 81% | $62,860 | #28229 | Compare |
Butler University Similar quality tier (#28237 ranked) | IN | 85% | $77,235 | #28237 | Compare |
Averett University Similar quality tier in Southeast (#28238 ranked) | VA | 57% | $51,516 | #28238 | Compare |
Gannon University Similar quality tier (#28228 ranked) | PA | 74% | $58,845 | #28228 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Mount St. Mary's University's published cost of attendance is $63,731.
Net price by income band shows meaningful variation across family circumstances: low-income families pay approximately $11,603, middle-income families pay around $21,942, and higher-income families pay approximately $31,330. Azimuth ranks Mount St.
Mary's University #1042 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 26.9 percentile for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Mount St. Mary's structures aid through need-based and merit-based programs, with families applying through the FAFSA.
The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs to help bridge the gap between published cost and what families actually pay. For families seeking to understand how their specific circumstances affect net price, the institution's financial aid office can provide personalized estimates based on household income and assets.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,391, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $42,721; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $64,424, median federal debt of $25,391 projects to a monthly payment of about $287 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Mount St. Mary's University earn median 4-year earnings of $64,424, placing Mount St.
Mary's University in the 64.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,311 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mount St.
Mary's University in the 20.1 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mount St.
Mary's University #810 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions — in the 45.3 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Mount St.
Mary's University's concentration in business and professional fields. Business/Commerce, General is the largest program with 106 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $74,839, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field.
The Accounting program graduates 43 students with median 4-year earnings of $81,796, while Criminology and Teacher Education round out the institution's core program portfolio with 40 and 27 graduates respectively. The concentration in Business — a field that typically leads to stable, well-defined career pathways — helps explain the institution's consistent earnings outcomes across its graduate cohort.
