Marywood University

Private · Moderately Selective · PA

Photo: Daderot (Public domain)

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationPA · Northeast

SettingUrban

Undergrads1,784

Student:faculty11:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate49.2%

6-yr grad rate71.7%

Drop-out rate20.2%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$41k

Out-of-state tuition$41k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity23.8%

Gender diversity64.3%

International0.4%

IdentityRoman Catholic

Overview

Marywood University sits on a hilltop campus in Scranton, Pennsylvania, founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It combines a close, service-oriented Catholic character with a surprisingly broad array of professional and artistic programs for a university of its size, drawing students from northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.

Academics

Art and design is a signature strength, and Marywood houses a school of architecture, unusual for an institution this size and a genuine differentiator among small Catholic universities. Social work and health professions, including physical therapy and speech-language pathology, are also well regarded. Class sizes are small and faculty accessibility is emphasized throughout.

Campus & student life

The hilltop campus overlooks Scranton and has a traditional, contained feel, with most students living on campus for at least their first two years. Catholic identity and IHM heritage shape campus life and service programming without dominating daily routine for non-Catholic students. Athletics compete at the Division III level.

Getting in

Marywood's review is holistic, with a portfolio required for art, design, and architecture applicants alongside the standard academic file. The university is known for generous merit aid relative to its sticker price, a common pattern among small private Catholic universities competing for a regional applicant pool.

After graduation

Architecture and art and design graduates build portfolios that place well regionally and beyond, while social work and health-professions graduates move into the hospital systems and social-service agencies of northeastern Pennsylvania. The alumni network is concentrated in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.

Worth knowing

The architecture program is the standout fact prospective students should know, few universities Marywood's size offer a full architecture degree, and it draws a specific kind of applicant who might otherwise look at much larger schools. Merit scholarships are worth investigating closely given the university's tuition-discounting reputation.

marywood.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate60.6%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1060–1250 · ACT 18–30

Test policyoptional

Rec letters1

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

AdmissionRolling

Applying