Mount Saint Mary's University

Private · Moderately Selective · CA

Photo: Bobak Ha'Eri (CC BY 3.0)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationCA · West

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,719

Student:faculty8:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate33%

6-yr grad rate53.2%

Drop-out rate28.9%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$50k

Out-of-state tuition$50k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity92%

Gender diversity92.1%

International0.5%

IdentityRoman Catholic

Overview

A Catholic university with two Los Angeles campuses — a hilltop site in Brentwood and a second campus downtown — whose undergraduate program is primarily for women, one of the few remaining women's colleges in California. It is known for graduating a student body that is majority first-generation and majority Latina.

Academics

Nursing and the health sciences are the strongest draw, with hands-on clinical training and licensure-focused programs. The university also offers liberal arts, business, and education programs built with substantial support structures for first-generation students specifically.

Campus & student life

The Brentwood (Chalon) campus sits above the city with views but is physically separated from downtown Los Angeles, while the downtown (Doheny) campus offers a more urban setting. Classes are small, and the culture is personal and mission-driven, shaped by the founding Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

Getting in

Holistic, with real attention to first-generation-college context and a mission centered on educating women who might not otherwise have easy access to a four-year degree.

Worth knowing

The two-campus structure means the day-to-day experience differs meaningfully depending on which site a student attends, and undergraduate admission is women-only — a defining feature, not a historical footnote, even though some graduate and second-degree programs are coeducational.

msmu.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate73.1%

Enrolled mid-50%—

Test policynot used

Rec letters0

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying