Mount Saint Mary's University

What is the accreditation of Mount Saint Mary's University?

Mount Saint Mary's University is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission, commonly called WSCUC. Institutional accreditation evaluates the university as a whole; it is distinct from approval or accreditation of an individual professional program.

This distinction is especially important for fields such as nursing, education and other licensed professions. Applicants should check the current accreditation or state-board approval of the specific program and degree level they plan to enter, along with the licensing rules of the state where they hope to work. Institutional accreditation is relevant to federal student-aid eligibility and can matter in transfer-credit review, but it does not guarantee that another college will accept a particular course or that a graduate will qualify for a professional license.

What are the admission requirements at Mount Saint Mary's University?

Mount Saint Mary's does not have an open-admission policy. First-year applicants generally apply with a secondary-school record and GPA information, and degree-seeking entrants need a high school diploma or an accepted equivalent. Admission to a selective program may involve additional steps beyond admission to the university.

In its reported admissions criteria, the university requires the secondary-school record and GPA, while class rank and recommendations are considered but not required. SAT and ACT scores are neither required nor recommended in that reporting. Applicants educated in a language other than English should review the applicable English-proficiency requirements; the university reports a TOEFL requirement for applicants to whom that requirement applies. International, transfer, graduate and nursing applicants may face different document and deadline rules.

In a recent entering-class report, the university admitted about 73% of first-time applicants. That figure describes a past applicant pool, not an individual applicant's chances or admission to a particular major. Before submitting an application, applicants should confirm the current term deadline and any program-specific materials in the university's admissions instructions.

What are the application fees and waivers at Mount Saint Mary's University?

An applicant should check the fee shown in Mount Saint Mary's current application instructions before submitting, because application charges can differ by applicant category or application route. The charge, if one applies, is separate from an enrollment deposit and from tuition.

Students who need a fee waiver should ask admissions about eligibility and the required request process before paying or submitting an application. In particular, first-year, transfer, graduate and special-program applicants should not assume that another category's fee or waiver policy applies to them.

What types of ROTC programs are available at Mount Saint Mary's University?

Students considering ROTC should confirm a current cross-enrollment arrangement before treating it as an available Mount Saint Mary's pathway. ROTC participation through a host university is different from having an Army, Air Force or Navy ROTC unit operated on one's own campus.

A prospective participant should ask Mount Saint Mary's and the relevant host detachment whether its courses fit the intended degree schedule, how travel between campuses works and whether credits count toward graduation. Scholarship eligibility, physical and citizenship requirements, commissioning rules and eventual service obligations depend on the branch and the student's circumstances; an ROTC scholarship should not be assumed as part of a financial-aid estimate.

What are the requirements for transfer students at Mount Saint Mary's University?

Mount Saint Mary's accepts transfer applicants for fall and spring entry and generally considers credits earned at other accredited institutions. Transfer admission and the award of credit are separate decisions: being admitted does not mean every previous course will satisfy a major, general-education or graduation requirement.

Transfer applicants should be prepared to submit official transcripts from every college attended and follow the current instructions for any required earlier school records. The university reports accepting Advanced Placement credit, CLEP examinations and certain credit recommendations, but the applicability of each award depends on its credit policies and the student's program. Nursing and other sequenced majors may impose additional course, grade or placement conditions.

Before enrolling, ask for an official evaluation showing not just the number of transferable credits but how each course applies to the intended degree. Students approaching graduation should also check the catalog's minimum institutional-credit and residency requirements. Community-college articulation information can help with planning, but an individual evaluation is the more useful basis for estimating time to completion.

What types of study abroad programs are available at Mount Saint Mary's University?

Mount Saint Mary's students interested in international study should begin with the university's study-abroad advising process. The practical question is not simply whether a destination is offered, but whether an approved experience fits the student's degree requirements, finances and graduation timetable.

Options may differ by term and can include short-term or longer study through approved partners rather than a course operated entirely by the university. Students should obtain academic approval before making travel commitments, particularly if they need a course for a major or a tightly sequenced program such as nursing. Financial aid does not necessarily apply in the same way to every external program; the financial-aid office can assess an individual approved option.