Mount St. Mary's University
Mount St. Mary's University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Mount St. Mary's University at a Glance
Mount St. Mary's University is a private Catholic university in Emmitsburg, Maryland, United States. It has the largest Catholic seminary in the United States. Undergraduate programs are divided between the College of Liberal Arts, the Richard J. Bolte School of Business, and the School of Natural Science and Mathematics. "The Mount" has over 40 undergraduate majors, minors, concentrations, and special programs, as well as bachelor's/master's combinations in partnership with other universities, …
1808
218 years old
2,411
1,833 undergrad · 578 grad
Identity
Is Mount St. Mary's University Worth It?
Mount St. Mary's University offers moderate value at $22,655/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $64,072, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.4 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
The 62% graduation rate means roughly 38% of students leave without a degree — taking on debt without the earnings boost that completion brings.
How Mount St. Mary's University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier in MD
Ranked #31 of 144 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 | University of St Francis | 81 | $13,006 | $63,926 |
| #2 | University of Detroit Mercy | 79 | $15,232 | $71,030 |
| #3 | Andrews University | 73 | $12,547 | $53,187 |
| #4 | Carroll University | 67 | $15,193 | $58,009 |
| #5 | Albion College | 61 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| #6 | Pacific Lutheran University | 60 | $19,589 | $66,990 |
| #31 | Mount St. Mary's University | 44 | $22,655 | $64,072 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Mount St. Mary's University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 4 in MD.
Best Programs at Mount St. Mary's University
The highest-earning program at Mount St. Mary's University is Accounting and Related Services at $50,700/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Research and Experimental Psychology at $32,100/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Accounting and Related Services graduate from Mount St. Mary's University earns $50,700, while a Research and Experimental Psychology graduate earns $32,100. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Accounting and Related Services graduates carry $26,250 in median debt vs. $25,826 for Research and Experimental Psychology.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $22,655/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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | $50,700 | $50,700 | $26,250 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,300 | $43,300 | $27,000 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $41,800 | $41,800 | $25,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $36,400 | $36,400 | $26,508 |
| Criminology | $34,500 | $34,500 | $24,379 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $32,100 | $32,100 | $25,826 |
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Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Emmitsburg, MD
- Student Body
- 1,768 students
- Admission Rate
- 74%
- Graduation Rate
- 62%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $22,655
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $64,072
- Median Student Debt
- $25,391