Mount St. Mary's University
Emmitsburg, Maryland · Private Nonprofit · 73.8% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Mount St. Mary's University earns a Fair Value tier with an ROI score of 68, anchored by a reasonable 7.9-year payback period and a 65.4% completion rate. The Catholic liberal arts university in Emmitsburg charges $48,630 in sticker tuition, but generous institutional aid brings the average net price down to $22,655 per year (about $90,620 over four years). Median earnings 10 years after entry reach $64,072, with a 0.605 debt-to-earnings ratio that flags moderate financial strain for graduates carrying the typical $25,391 in federal debt. The earnings premium subscore (71) and repayment rate (80.7%) are the most flattering numbers, while the debt-to-earnings subscore (50) is the clear drag on the overall grade. The score reflects a school doing reasonably well at translating a private-college sticker price into recoverable career outcomes, but families paying anywhere near the published rate without aid will find the math much tighter than the headline numbers suggest.
Mount St. Mary's University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $48,630/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $48,630/yr |
| Average net price | $22,655/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $90,620 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,072 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $42,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,391 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $269 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.4% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,768 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $48,630/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $22,655/year, or roughly $90,620 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $11,603/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $31,330/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,391, which works out to about $269 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($42,000) and comes to 0.60, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $11,603 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,067 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $21,942 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,170 |
| $110,001+ | $31,330 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 see a net price of $11,603 per year, the most favorable bracket on campus. With median earnings of $64,072 at the 10-year mark, the math works for low-income students who complete on time, though the 65.4% institutional completion rate means roughly one in three takes longer or never finishes.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-$75,000 income bracket pays $21,942, while the $75,001-$110,000 bracket pays $27,170. That puts middle-income families at $87,800 to $108,700 over four years, near or above the $90,620 published total cost. With a 0.605 debt-to-earnings ratio at graduation, middle-income families taking on full debt loads should expect tight cash flow during the standard 10-year repayment window.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Households above $110,000 face a $31,330 net price, or roughly $125,300 across four years, the worst price-to-outcome ratio on campus. Median 10-year earnings of $64,072 still recoup the cost.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Mount St. Mary's University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $74,839 | C+ |
| Political Science and Government | $60,428 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $87,360 | B |
| Teacher Education | $59,630 | B |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $40,480 | C |
| Accounting | $81,796 | B+ |
| Biology | $76,062 | B+ |
| International Relations | $56,507 | D |
| Kinesiology and Exercise Science | $54,677 | - |
| Communication and Media Studies | $57,669 | C |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is the largest program by enrollment with 76 graduates and posts a C+ ROI grade. First-year median earnings of $46,859 climb to $74,839 by year four, a strong trajectory that reflects the value of business credentials in the Mid-Atlantic corporate market. With $21,500 in median debt and a 0.459 debt-to-earnings ratio, graduates carry a manageable but not light burden.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer Science is one of Mount's standout ROI programs, earning a B grade with 34 graduates. First-year earnings of $57,612 grow to $87,360 by year four, the highest four-year figure on campus. Median debt of $21,240 and a 0.369 debt-to-earnings ratio mean students recoup cost quickly.
Accounting
Accounting earns a B+ ROI grade with 28 graduates and the lowest debt-to-earnings ratio on campus at 0.301. First-year earnings of $64,849 are the highest of any program at the school, and four-year earnings hit $81,796. With just $19,500 in median debt, accounting students at Mount face the cleanest financial path post-graduation, helped by the credential's high regional demand and CPA-track salary growth.
Political Science and Government
Political Science is another high-enrollment program at 58 graduates, but earns only a C grade. First-year earnings of $43,230 rise to $60,428 by year four, modest growth that doesn't fully offset $27,000 in median debt and a 0.625 debt-to-earnings ratio. Pre-law and policy-track students should weigh this carefully, the ROI improves substantially for graduates who continue to law or graduate school, but the bachelor's-only earnings profile is mediocre.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education earns a B grade with 32 graduates. Four-year median earnings of $59,630 are solid for the field, especially in Maryland's relatively well-compensated public schools, and the 0.39 debt-to-earnings ratio is healthy for a teaching career. Median debt of $23,250 is manageable on a teacher salary, particularly with PSLF eligibility for graduates entering public school systems.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 79.4% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 80.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 82.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 86.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Mount St. Mary's University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 73.8% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 503-620 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 543-660 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 19-27 |
| Enrollment | 1,768 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.1% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,399 |
Mount St. Mary's admits roughly 73.8% of applicants, putting it in the moderately selective range. SAT mid-50% bands run 503-620 math and 543-660 reading, with ACT composites between 19 and 27. The relatively wide ranges show the school takes a broad mix of academic profiles, and the 65.4% completion rate aligns with that openness.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Mount's payback period is 7.9 years and ten-year earnings are $64,072.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount St. Mary's University (this school) | 68 | $22,655 | $64,072 |
| Capitol Technology University | 79 | $22,102 | $85,035 |
| Canisius University | 67 | $17,940 | $60,681 |
| Elizabethtown College | 66 | $26,598 | $62,399 |
| Emmanuel College | 64 | $26,706 | $68,245 |
| Washington Adventist University | 55 | $18,526 | $64,249 |
Who Thrives Here
With 1,768 enrolled students and a 31.1% Pell grant rate, Mount St. Mary's is a small, moderately Pell-eligible private campus with a Catholic mission orientation. The school fits students who want a residential liberal arts experience in rural Maryland, with strong outcomes in pre-professional tracks like Accounting, Biology, and Computer Science.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Mount St. Mary's University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $22,655 a year after aid ($90,620 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $64,072 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $25,391 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $42,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Mount St. Mary's University: Common Questions
Is Mount St. Mary's University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Mount St. Mary's University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $22,655 a year after aid ($90,620 over four years) against $64,072 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.9 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Mount St. Mary's University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $22,655 a year, or roughly $90,620 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Mount St. Mary's University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $64,072 ten years after enrolling, roughly $22,272 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Mount St. Mary's University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.9 years for Mount St. Mary's University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Mount St. Mary's University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,391, against average earnings of $42,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.60. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Mount St. Mary's University?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.4%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.