Main Campus Admission

Application Procedures

The Office of Admissions at Mount St. Mary’s University is dedicated to providing services to prospective students pursuing higher education.  The office strives to recruit, admit, matriculate, and serve a qualified, diverse student population that reflects the values and mission of the Mount. It embraces the University’s commitment, as a Catholic university, to enrolling men and women who seek to become ethical leaders who are inspired by a passion for learning and lead lives of significance in service to God and others. The office also maintains the integrity of the enrollment process; thus ensuring efficient, equitable and systematic evaluation of credentials. 

All offers of acceptance are conditional, and are subject to review. An offer may be rescinded based on conduct or academic achievement inconsistent with the original application. A criminal history is not disqualifying for admissions to the university.

All students, regardless of the type of application used, will receive the same consideration for admission.

Before enrolling in classes at Mount St. Mary’s University as a degree seeking student, a student must provide their final official transcripts (including proof of high school graduation for first-year students).

The University will also consider students who have completed a recognized equivalent in place of a high school diploma, as well as students who are beyond the age of compulsory attendance.  Appropriate documentation of academic history must be provided.

First Year Student Admission

Students seeking regular admission as a first-time college student should submit their application to the University as early as possible in the senior year, but no later than March 1. Admissions decisions are made on a rolling basis. Applications received after March 1 will be considered on a space-available basis. However, students whose files remain incomplete after due dates for credentials submission have passed will be withdrawn from admissions consideration. 

Students who have identified Mount St. Mary’s as one of their top choices may choose to apply for admission under the Early Action Deadline These students must submit all the application materials, including high school transcript through the junior year and additional materials (see requirements under Regular First Year Student Admission) by December 1 of the student’s senior year. The Admissions Committee will evaluate the application and inform the student of its decision no later than December 25. Note that this early notification plan is nonbinding and, for those offered admission, does not require a response before the standard candidates’ reply date of May 1. 

All First Year Student offers of admission and merit scholarships are based on a holistic, personalized review utilizing a weighted GPA calculated through junior year of high school, supporting application materials, and demonstrated interest in attending. In order to be considered for admission, we require that students submit a completed online application. We also request the following additional pieces as part of a student’s application package: 

An official high school transcript(s) should be sent directly from your high school to the Admissions office. Your high school may send it electronically through an official transcript sending service. We recommend that students complete a minimum of 4 years of English, 3 years each of mathematics and science, 2 years of one foreign language, and 3 years of social studies/history (required). 

High school counselor or teacher recommendation (required). 

Test scores from the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and/or the American College Testing program (ACT) and/or the Classic Learning Test (CLT). Either direct results from the testing agency or results included on official school transcripts are acceptable. The University’s SAT code is 5421, and its ACT number is 1726  (optional). 

Personal statement or essay (optional) 

Resume or list of activities/leadership/employment/athletics/service (optional). 

 First Year Student Spring Start and Deferral Policy

Recent high school graduates in their first semester at another higher education institution can apply (or reactivate a previous application/acceptance) to the Mount during their first college semester for entry in the following spring and receive the current academic year’s first year scholarships.  These students will be considered first year students for purposes of enrollment, financial aid, registration and housing.  Upon successful completion of their first semester at the other institution, final official transcripts must be submitted and credits will be awarded where appropriate. 

Students who have been admitted to Mount St. Mary’s University as undergraduate first year students can request to defer their admission to a later entry date. 

1. An offer of admissions and enrollment deposit is good for one calendar year. An offer may be rescinded based on conduct or academic achievement inconsistent with the original application.  
2. A student must notify the Office of Admissions in writing of their desire to defer, and their intended entry term. 
3. A student’s merit scholarship and financial aid award will remain valid during the same academic year for which they were offered but may be reevaluated beyond that. 
4. A student may take up to 15 credits of college coursework.  Taking more than 15 may require the student to reapply as a Transfer candidate. 
5. Housing and scheduling questions will be referred to the appropriate office (Housing and Registrar’s, respectively) 

Test Optional Policy

All first year student applicants (except for homeschool and international applicants) are eligible for admissions and scholarships without submitting their scores, but may do so if they believe their scores add to their overall academic story. International students who are in a non-English language based high school curriculum must submit either SAT, ACT, TOEFL or IELTS scores. Homeschool students must submit either SAT, ACT, CLT scores or a transcript from an accredited college  showing at least 12 completed credits.

Division I athletes may still be required to submit their test scores to the NCAA to determine eligibility, but these scores are not required to receive an admissions decision or merit scholarship.

Campus Visits

We strongly encourage prospective students to visit the Mount campus or participate in online visit programs. While we welcome visitors throughout the year, we recommend that students visit when the University is in session. We are happy to arrange a campus tour, which are led by current Mount students, as well as coordinate individual appointments for meetings with faculty, coaches, or other administrative offices such as Financial Aid, Accounting & Finance, and the Registrar’s Office as well.

Please go to www.msmary.edu/visit or call the Admissions Office at 301-447-5214 to make arrangements for your visit. While a personal interview is not a required part of the admission process, it can be helpful in providing us a more complete and personal understanding of you as an individual.

Advanced Placement

For those who have taken Advanced Placement Tests through College Board, the University will grant appropriate credit; course waivers and credit are determined by the test grade and existing University policy. These credits may apply to major, minor, elective or some of the core curriculum requirements and will be recorded on the University transcript with a grade of Pass (P) when the official report is received from College Board. Generally, AP grades of three or better will receive University course credit. The AP credit policy is listed below.

*Students who receive a score of 5 may opt to continue the study of the language at the 300 level and be eligible for six additional credits of prior learning.

International Baccalaureate

To students who have achieved scores of 4 or higher, Mount St. Mary’s awards credit for higher level exams only. Actual distribution of credit will be determined on a case by case basis.

Dual/Concurrent Enrollment

Students who are taking college courses while concurrently enrolled in high school will be granted appropriate credit. These credits may apply to major, minor, elective or core curriculum requirements and will be recorded on the University transcript with a grade of Pass (P) when the official transcript is received directly from the college or university granting the grade/credit. Regardless of the number of college credits earned while a high school student, such students will still be considered a first-year student during the admissions process.

Transfer Students

Mount St. Mary’s welcomes transfer students coming from either a two- or four-year regionally accredited institution who wish to continue their education. Any student who has graduated from high school and subsequently enrolls at another institution will be considered a transfer student.  Two exceptions apply: 

1. Students will be given first year status (non-transfer) if they have completed their High School Diploma or GED, are currently enrolled at another institution, but will not have completed those courses at the time of application (see Spring Start Enrollment Policy). 
2. Students who are below the transfer GPA standard (2.4 GPA) and have under 15 transferable credits may possibly be enrolled as a first-year student. Approval is on a case by case basis. The Associate Provost will make the final determination in these situations. 
3. Students with less than 12 credits will be considered a first year student. 

We welcome students for both the fall and spring semesters. A student must be in good academic and disciplinary standing and be eligible to return to the institution from which the student is transferring. Generally, transfer students are required to have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.4 on a 4.0 scale. 

All offers of admission and merit scholarships are based a full transcript review and utilizing the GPA at the most recent college attended (or college where the majority of credits were completed, at the Admissions Office’s discretion).  In order to be considered for admission, we require that students submit a completed online application. We also request the following additional pieces as part of a student’s application package: 

1. Transcripts for each higher education institution attended (required) 
2. At least 1 academic letter of recommendation (preferably from your most recent institution) to verify that the student is in good academic standing (optional)  
3. Personal essay (optional)  
4. Additional letters of recommendation (optional)  
5. Resume (optional) 

Transfer students should submit all application materials by June 1 for fall entrance or by December 1 for spring entrance. An application for transfer admission should include:

• A completed and submitted transfer application.
• Official transcripts are required from each post-secondary institution. However, if an applicant has not yet completed his or her first term at a post-secondary institution at the time of application, then an official copy of the secondary school transcript is required instead. Prior to the end of the first semester at the Mount, an official copy of the post-secondary institution transcript is required.
• At least one letter of recommendation from a professor who has taught you in an academic course; if not, then at least one personal recommendation (an employer, for example).

Students must provide official transcripts for each college or university attended including any final transcripts showing degree conferral.  

Students who wish to transfer need to keep in mind that at least half of the credits in the major and minor fields and certain core curriculum courses should be taken at the Mount. (In any case, a minimum of 30 credit hours must be completed at Mount St. Mary’s as a graduation requirement.) No more than 75 credits will be accepted for transfer. 

The University tries to be flexible with respect to core curricular requirements for transfer students. Courses from the students’ previous institutions may fulfill many of the University’s core requirements. 

Transfer students will receive a preliminary evaluation of their remaining core and major requirements. All traditional academic courses from accredited institutions are eligible for transfer; no remedial or developmental courses will be considered. Only grades of C- or higher will be accepted for transfer; all courses transferred are listed on the transcript with a grade of Pass (P) and are not counted in the cumulative average. 

Transfer students should submit all application materials by June 1 for fall entrance or by December 1 for spring entrance. The Admissions Office will normally notify transfer applicants of its decision within two weeks of the completion of the application. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis and are determined at the time of your admissions decision. Transfer applications received after the deadlines will be considered on a space-available basis. 

Undergraduate Non-Degree Seeking Students

Mount St. Mary’s University undergraduate programs offer undergraduate courses for individuals interested in non-degree studies for continuing education, professional development, personal enrichment or as a visiting college or high school student. Up to twenty-four credits taken as a non-degree seeking student may apply towards degree requirements for an undergraduate degree. Students must take pre-requisites specified. Students who have never taken coursework at Mount St. Mary’s University must complete the non-degree seeking undergraduate application prior to registering for courses.

International Students

Mount St. Mary’s seeks and encourages the cultural diversity that international students bring to the campus. Each year we enroll a number of international students, and approximately one dozen different countries are represented in the student body.

International applicants should submit the completed First Year Student application form, along with an international transcript evaluation. Mount St. Mary’s uses WES, an accredited international evaluator to translate international transcripts into an American grading scale so that we can best assess your candidacy. Please note that we require the course-by-course evaluation option when using this service.

International students for whom English is not the native language are required to provide test results showing English proficiency.  Tests and required scores are: TOEFL (internet-based): 83; IELTS: 6.5; PTE: 54; Duolingo: 105; Cambridge: B1; iTEP: 4.5; SAT: 530; ACT: 18 in English. 

Once offered admission, international students who will enroll must provide: 

1. A certified bank statement or affidavit of support documenting that adequate funds are available to pay the full educational and living expenses in the United States for each year of enrollment. Limited academic scholarships, ranging in amount up to but not more than about one-third of the total budget of educational and living costs, may be available to international applicants with especially strong academic credentials and TOEFL or  SAT results.  
2. A Mount St. Mary’s medical form, indicating completion of the required United States immunizations, as well as immunizations required by the native country. 

Information about obtaining an international student visa can be found on our international students visas and responsibilities webpage. Undergraduate applications are due by March 15 for the following fall semester. If you have any additional questions about applying to Mount St. Mary’s University as an international student and entering as an undergraduate candidate, please contact the Admissions Office at 301-447-5214. 

Veterans and Military Personnel

Mount St. Mary’s is authorized by the Maryland Higher Education Commission to accept for full-time or part-time study veterans who have met the admissions standards of the University. 

Veterans are required to abide by the regulations of the Department of Veteran Affairs as well as those of the University. 

The University Registrar serves as the VA-certifying official. Newly enrolled students who are eligible to receive veteran benefits should contact the University Registrar at the outset of their studies. 

Mount St. Mary’s University participates in the Yellow Ribbon program. Students in the Yellow Ribbon program will have 100% of their tuition and fees paid from a combination of VA funds and Mount St. Mary’s funds.  The students are not eligible to receive funds from either source in excess of tuition and fees.  For information, contact the University Registrar at 301-447-5215 or Registrar@msmary.edu.

Mount St. Mary’s adopts and supports the Principles of Excellence for service members, veterans, spouses, and family members. This covers key areas relating to federal military and veteran educational benefits programs. 

Residency Age Policy

Students who are 16 years of age or younger or who are 23 years of age or older at the time they will be living on campus must request permission in writing to reside on campus. These requests must be submitted to the Dean of Students or designee in writing and will be handled on a case-by-case basis. Mount St. Mary’s University requires this formal request to advise appropriate housing placement for individuals meeting the criteria described above. Students permitted to reside on campus who are 16 years of age or younger or 23 years of age or older may be subject to semester reviews where residential eligibility is examined, and Mount St. Mary’s University reserves the right to make housing decisions based on individual circumstances.