
Mary Baldwin University is institutionally accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly called SACSCOC. Institutional accreditation applies to the university as a whole and is distinct from any approval required for a particular professional program.
For students, recognized institutional accreditation is an important condition of participation in federal student aid programs. It may also matter when applying to graduate school or seeking transfer credit, but another institution decides which credits it will accept. Accreditation alone does not establish that a graduate qualifies for a professional license.
Applicants to nursing, education, or another licensed profession should verify the current program-specific accreditation and state approval for their exact degree and intended licensing state. Those requirements can differ from the university's institutional accreditation.
Mary Baldwin admits applicants through different undergraduate and graduate pathways, so requirements depend on the program. A first-time undergraduate applicant should expect to submit an application and documentation of high school completion or an equivalent credential, including a GED where applicable.
Mary Baldwin has been classified as having an open-admission policy in institutional reporting. That classification should not be taken to mean that every applicant qualifies for every major or professional program: applicants still need to meet the applicable credential, documentation, and program requirements. In an earlier entering-student group, relatively few enrolled students submitted standardized test scores - 18% submitted SAT scores and 2% submitted ACT scores. Those submission figures do not establish the test policy for a current application cycle.
Applicants should check the current instructions for their entry term to determine whether transcripts, an essay, recommendations, or test scores are required or optional. Health-professions and graduate applicants may face separate prerequisites or selection procedures. An applicant educated outside the United States should also verify the program's current English-language and transcript-evaluation requirements rather than assuming the first-year undergraduate checklist applies.
Applicants should check the fee displayed for their specific Mary Baldwin University application before submitting it. A single fee should not be assumed to apply across undergraduate, online, graduate, and health-professions applications.
If paying an application fee would present a hardship, ask the relevant admissions office about a waiver before submission and whether the chosen application method accepts one. Fee-waiver procedures can depend on applicant category and application platform. An application fee, if charged, is separate from an enrollment deposit, tuition, and other charges that may arise after admission.
Mary Baldwin students have reported access to Army, Air Force, and Navy ROTC through cooperating host institutions rather than separate units operated by Mary Baldwin on its campus. A prospective participant should confirm the current host arrangement for the desired branch before relying on it in an enrollment plan.
Cross-enrollment can require travel, a compatible course schedule, and participation in training outside ordinary Mary Baldwin classes. ROTC scholarship eligibility is determined through the applicable military program; joining ROTC and accepting a scholarship are not the same decision. Contracting or commissioning can create a service obligation, so students should review those terms with the host unit.
Mary Baldwin's military-related educational pathways should also be distinguished from ROTC. Participation in one does not automatically constitute enrollment in an Army, Air Force, or Navy ROTC unit.
Mary Baldwin generally accepts transfer applications and considers credit earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer students may enter in fall, spring, or summer, but admission to the university and acceptance of particular courses toward a degree are separate decisions.
A transfer applicant should be prepared to provide official transcripts from every college attended and to check whether high school records are also required for their circumstances. The receiving program evaluates completed coursework for credit, equivalencies, and degree applicability. A course can transfer as elective credit without satisfying a requirement in the intended major.
The university also reports accepting Advanced Placement credit, certain examination-based credit, and credit recommendations associated with prior learning. Applicants should not assume that those categories will meet a specific major requirement. Before committing, request a written evaluation showing accepted credits, remaining requirements, and any minimum number of credits that must be completed at Mary Baldwin; professional programs may apply additional restrictions.
Mary Baldwin students interested in international study should plan it with their academic adviser before selecting a program. The key questions are whether the proposed coursework is approved for their degree, when it can fit into the major, and how its costs and credits will be handled.
Options may differ by program and year and can include approved study through a partner or outside provider rather than a semester operated directly by Mary Baldwin. Students in tightly sequenced majors, clinical programs, or programs with required campus activities should establish which term is feasible before making travel commitments.
Financial aid does not automatically apply to every international program or expense. Students should obtain approval for the academic plan and a program-specific aid assessment before paying a deposit.
Regular application deadline
August 25Early Decision
NoEarly Action
NoPercent of students submitting ACT scores
2%Percent of students submitting SAT scores
18%High school completions
General Educational Development (GED) requiredComputer required
NoComputer purchase/lease plan is available in the institution
NoOpen admission policy
YesDual credit
NoCredit for life experiences
YesAdvanced placement (AP) credits
YesOrientation program
YesDisabilities services
YesOff-campus study
YesROTC-Army
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Navy
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionROTC-Air Force
ROTC branch unit at a cooperating host institutionStudy abroad
YesWeekend/evening college
YesStudent can complete their preparation in certain areas of specialization
NoPreparation at another institution required
NoApproved by the state for initial certification or licensure of teacher
YesGenerally accepts credits
YesAccept ACE recommendation for credit
YesPossible transfer
Fall, Spring, SummerData last updated on November 2, 2026
Data sources: IPEDS 2024-25, Peterson 2026, College Scorecard 10/2026, Clery 2024 (2023-24), OpenAlex 2026
Figures on this profile come from federal and third-party datasets in the editions listed above and are refreshed periodically, so they may differ from what the institution currently reports. Confirm costs, deadlines and requirements with the school before making decisions.