Mount Mary University
Mount Mary University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Mount Mary University at a Glance
Mount Mary University is a private Catholic women's university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. The university was founded in 1913 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame and was Wisconsin's first four-year, degree-granting Catholic college for women. Today, the university serves women at the undergraduate level and both women and men at the graduate level.
1913
113 years old
1,209
Identity
Is Mount Mary University Worth It?
At a value score of 30/100, Mount Mary University is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $48,745 — 9% below average — while paying $20,144/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.7 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 50% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 5 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With median debt of $25,288 representing 52% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Mount Mary University has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Mount Mary University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #22 of 71 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 100 | $672 | $39,260 |
| #2 | Pillar College | 49 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
| #3 | University of Fort Lauderdale | 48 | $19,965 | $38,062 |
| #4 | Wesleyan College | 43 | $12,724 | $44,317 |
| #5 | Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology | 43 | $15,488 | $57,556 |
| #6 | Heritage University | 39 | $14,598 | $49,416 |
| #22 | Mount Mary University | 30 | $20,144 | $48,745 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Mount Mary University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in WI.
Best Programs at Mount Mary University
The highest-earning program at Mount Mary University is Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations at $30,600/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Design and Applied Arts at $29,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations graduate from Mount Mary University earns $30,600, while a Design and Applied Arts graduate earns $29,100. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations graduates carry $24,250 in median debt vs. $25,000 for Design and Applied Arts.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $20,144/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $30,600 | $30,600 | $24,250 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $29,100 | $29,100 | $25,000 |
Similar Colleges in WI
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Milwaukee, WI
- Student Body
- 631 students
- Admission Rate
- 62%
- Graduation Rate
- 50%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $20,144
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $48,745
- Median Student Debt
- $25,288