University of Mount Saint Vincent admits 84.6% of applicants, meaning roughly 5 in 6 applicants receive an offer of admission. This places the institution in the Open Access tier, indicating broad educational access for qualified students. The peer median admission rate of 70.6% shows University of Mount Saint Vincent is more accessible than typical private nonprofit institutions, with a 14.1 percentage point higher acceptance rate. This level of accessibility means most academically prepared students can expect admission, though the institution maintains academic standards as evidenced by SAT requirements. Students should view University of Mount Saint Vincent as a realistic option if their academic profile aligns with institutional expectations. For college planning purposes, this admission rate suggests students can treat the university as a target or safety school rather than a reach institution. The open access approach reflects the institution's mission to serve diverse student populations, including significant shares of first-generation and Pell-eligible students who benefit from accessible admission standards.
A directional estimate — not a prediction
Admitted students typically score between 920 and 1200 on the SAT, representing the middle 50% range of enrolled students. The SAT midpoint is 1110, with math scores ranging from 440 to 590 and verbal scores from 480 to 610. These scores rank at the 90th percentile nationally, indicating University of Mount Saint Vincent enrolls academically strong students despite its open access admission rate. The peer median SAT score of 1256 shows admitted students score 146 points below typical private nonprofit peers, reflecting the institution's commitment to educational access alongside academic achievement. ACT scores range around a midpoint of 20, ranking at the 87th percentile nationally. Students scoring within the 920-1200 SAT range can expect to be academically competitive for admission, while those scoring below 920 face some disadvantage but are not automatically excluded. The ranges represent enrolled students, not minimum requirements, meaning students outside this range do gain admission. For prospective students, these academic credentials should be viewed as typical rather than minimum thresholds, and the institution's open access approach suggests consideration of factors beyond test scores alone in admission decisions.
Understanding institutional priorities and student support
University of Mount Saint Vincent enrolls 43.2% Pell-eligible students and 41.0% first-generation students, indicating the institution serves significant populations from lower-income and educationally underrepresented families. The 56.2% transfer student share demonstrates substantial enrollment of students beginning their college careers elsewhere, reflecting the institution's commitment to providing educational opportunities for non-traditional pathways. This student composition suggests admission priorities that value educational access and opportunity alongside academic achievement. The high transfer share indicates strong support systems for students transitioning from community colleges or other institutions. First-generation students should know that 41.0% of enrolled students share their background, providing peer support and institutional familiarity with first-generation challenges. Students from lower-income families should consider the 43.2% Pell share when assessing institutional fit and available support resources. The substantial transfer population creates a diverse learning environment with students of varying ages and educational experiences, which can enrich classroom discussions and peer learning opportunities.
Given University of Mount Saint Vincent's 84.6% acceptance rate, most qualified applicants gain admission. However, students seeking alternatives for academic, financial, or geographic reasons have several comparable options with similar or better outcomes.
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71.0% of University of Mount Saint Vincent freshmen return for sophomore year, compared to a peer median of 83.1%, indicating retention challenges that prospective students should consider. The 57.1% six-year graduation rate falls below the peer median of 70%, suggesting completion presents obstacles for some students. Notably, Pell-eligible students graduate at 45.1%, creating a 12 percentage point gap with the overall completion rate. This gap indicates lower-income students face additional challenges completing their degrees, though the institution does graduate significant numbers of Pell recipients given the 43.2% enrollment share. The retention and completion patterns suggest students who gain admission should expect to work actively with institutional support services to ensure persistence and degree completion. Prospective students should weigh these completion rates when considering institutional fit, particularly if they prefer environments with higher retention and graduation outcomes. Students who thrive in more individualized, supportive settings may find success despite the completion challenges, while those preferring higher-retention environments might consider alternative institutions.
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