As a Catholic university, Mount St. Mary’s graduates ethical leaders who are inspired by a passion for learning and lead lives of significance in service to God and others.
Set on a scenic 1,400-acre campus in the Catoctin Mountains near historic Emmitsburg, Maryland, the Mount is a Catholic university with a 200+ year legacy of graduating young men and women who go on to lead lives of significance in service to God and others.
#64 in Regional Universities North (tie); #46 in Top Private Schools (tie); #17 in Best Value Schools; #33 in Best Colleges for Veterans; #137 in Top Performers on Social Mobility (tie).
IME, in partnership with Statista, the leading global provider of market and consumer data and rankings, has published the inaugural edition of the "America's Best Colleges 2026-2027" ranking. The underlying quantitative study highlights institutions that excel at student outcomes, learning environment, and attractiveness in the United States.
Forbes' annual list highlights 500 colleges that produce high-earning, successful and influential graduates from all economic backgrounds, with less student debt.
Money's latest Best Colleges list evaluates four-year colleges on 25 metrics - including graduation rates, costs, financial aid, student debt and alumni salaries - to help families find schools that deliver strong value. There's no single "best" college for every student, but our star ratings can help you compare affordable colleges, discover standout schools and build a college list that fits your budget.
#2 Best College Athletics in Maryland; #14 Best Value College in Maryland. The Best Colleges ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic, admissions, financial, and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with millions of reviews from students and alumni. The ranking compares more than 1,000 top colleges and universities in the U.S.
Phi Theta Kappa recognizes the importance of your institutional commitment and investment of resources to support transfer students. To honor excellence and success in transfer pathway development, we invite you to participate in our annual national recognition program, the Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Honor Roll, to showcase your institution's best practices.
Mount St. Mary's University enrolls more than 2,000 full-time students in six academic divisions on two campuses in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and Frederick, Maryland.
A majority of faculty hold terminal degrees (doctorates), meaning students will be taught by professors who are experts in their respective fields. The Mount CORE provides a foundation in soft skills like communication, problem-solving, and adaptability through a Catholic Liberal Arts Education that most colleges lack. This foundation is paired with hard skills in students' respective fields to better equip them for the rapidly changing world.
The Mount has opportunities for students to learn outside the classroom, growing professionally through research and hands-on experience.
Since 2019, Mount St. Mary's University has operated a student-powered Security Operations Center (SOC). Originally designed and developed by undergraduate IT student workers, the SOC reflects the Mount's emphasis on experiential learning and student leadership. In this role, students gain direct, early-career experience within an enterprise IT and cybersecurity environment. Through the SOC, students build practical skills and professional readiness, applying and extending concepts developed through their coursework while also serving the Mount community as an integral part of the University's broader defense strategy.
In our ESPN Broadcasting Studio, you'll learn to operate cameras, edit audio and video, and broadcast Mount NCAA Division I sporting events LIVE through our partnership with ESPN+. Each week, students review their prior broadcasts, scope out the next week's schedule, and are assigned roles. Students can work on cameras one week, do graphics the next, and the week after that are in charge of replays.
With our new Confocal Microscope, the Mount now serves as the regional hub for microscopy research. The state-of-the-art microscope will support the research of faculty members and students at the Mount as well as Hood College and Gettysburg College. The microscope is outfitted with a variety of components to provide expanded capabilities, allowing for use across a wide variety of disciplines. The new instrument will allow for imaging of cultured cells, 3D reconstruction of cellular components, and real-time tracking of proteins in living organisms.
Accessible and affordable, our life-changing study abroad programs will take you to Greece, Argentina, Italy, Ecuador, Austria, and Dublin, Ireland, thanks to our newest partnership allowing students to go to Ireland for the same cost as they would attending the University in the regular academic year.
Meet our creative community at the Maker's House, where you can take four labs: ceramics lab, which involves hand-forming clay. Craft lab involves jewelry making, knitting, crocheting, sewing, and embroidery. Shop lab is woodworking and sculpture. Fab lab comprises digital fabrication, 3D printing, laser-cutting, and CNC routing. The Maker's House is operated by student managers who oversee daily open labs and host weekly workshops. Workshops are led by a student, professor, or other maker and are available to members of the Mount community, regardless of experience level. Participants can learn a new skill and create in good company.
With 582 NCAA Division I student‑athletes, 12 Olympians in school history, and 26 Division I athletic teams, Mount St. Mary’s University strives for excellence both on and off the field. Athletics here are not only about competition—they’re about formation: shaping character, discipline, and leadership through teamwork and perseverance. Every Mountaineer learns that true victory lies in growth just as much as in the final score.
582
NCAA Division I Student-Athletes
12
Olympic Athletes
26
Division I Athletic Teams
The Mount features 70+ student organizations and traditions. A few include Pep Band, Mount SGA, African Student Association, Student Organization of Latinos, Militia Immaculata, and the oldest continuing Knights of Columbus College Council in the nation. We've also got Anime Club, Esports, and more! Take part in our Farmers Markets, PAC Pub for those over the age of 21, Crab Feast, and other events throughout the academic year. Open Mic Nights are on Fridays, and trips to Hershey Park, New York, Washington D.C, or an Orioles game are offered during the academic year.
Explore the Mount's outdoor adventures, including the on-campus zip line, hiking trails in the Catoctin Mountains, local ski resorts, and the serene National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes on the Mount's summit.
Mount St. Mary's University is home to the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes and three chapels that serve as living examples of our commitment to our faith and as places for the Mount community to reflect and pray.
Learn more about how Mount students get involved in more than 70 student-run clubs, organizations, causes and traditions.
