Photo: University of Mary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
School data & stats
Outcomes
Cost
Community
Overview
The University of Mary is a private Catholic university in Bismarck, North Dakota, founded by Benedictine sisters, on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. Its Catholic identity is unusually pronounced for a regional university this size, shaping campus culture, required theology and philosophy coursework, and a stated mission tied to the New Evangelization. The university draws students from well beyond North Dakota given that identity, not just the surrounding region.
Academics
Nursing and health sciences are the clear strength, including doctoral-level physical therapy and other advanced health programs uncommon at a university this size. The university has also built a reputation for accelerated, career-focused degree completion options aimed at working adults, alongside its traditional undergraduate offerings.
Campus & student life
Bismarck is a modest state-capital city, so campus life is largely self-contained, with a strong emphasis on Catholic community life, daily Mass availability, and campus ministry alongside more typical residential college activities. Athletics compete in NAIA as the Marauders.
Getting in
Fit with the university's Catholic mission matters in review, and applicants who can speak to that identity, alongside solid academic preparation, tend to be a strong match for what the university is building.
Worth knowing
The University of Mary operates satellite campuses in Rome and elsewhere abroad, giving students an unusually direct pipeline into Catholic study-abroad experience tied closely to the university's core mission rather than a generic exchange program.
Admissions
Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)
Applying
umary.edu ↗High school coursework
RequiredHigh school diploma/transcript required; no specific unit distribution mandated for admission
Recommended4 units of English · 3 units of Social Studies · 2-4 units of Mathematics · 2-4 units of Science
Your fit, with your own numbers
With a free Dorado account, this tab fills in from your own profile and course plan:
- A chance band (Far Reach to Likely) calibrated against real admitted-student data — published test-score ranges and, where a school reports them, Common Data Set GPA profiles — with plain-English reasons.
- A fit breakdown across testing, grades, course rigor, activities, and honors, side by side with the numbers the school publishes.
- Deadline countdowns where verified application dates are on file.
Creating an account is free and takes no card — college search, list tracking, and fit are all included.
Create your free account