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Mount St. Mary's University — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Emmitsburg, MD · 1,768 students

The verdict

Mount St. Mary's University charges a net price of $22,655/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $90,620. Graduates earn a median $64,072 ten years after entry, $15,712/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.8 years — a 20-year net return of $223,620, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Mount St. Mary's University's 5.8-year payback ranks #511 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 60% of them, and #13 of 52 in Maryland.

Better ROI than 60% of US colleges#511 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$22,655
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$64,072
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
5.8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
74%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Mount St. Mary's University: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$22,655/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$90,620our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$64,072Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$15,712/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$25,391Scorecard, 2026
Payback5.8 yrsour math
20-year net return$223,620our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Mount St. Mary's University's own numbers. Net price $22,655 × 4 years = $90,620 total. Median earnings $64,072 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $15,712 a year of premium. $90,620 ÷ $15,712 = 5.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $223,620. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Mount St. Mary's University students graduate with?

A median $25,391 in federal loans among completers, or 40% of the $64,072 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Mount St. Mary's University students graduate?

65% finish their degree — 35% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $90,620 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $139,415 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Mount St. Mary's University expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?

Its $22,655 net price runs $5,077 above the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, or $20,308 more across the full degree.

Mount St. Mary's University: frequently asked questions

Is Mount St. Mary's University worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Mount St. Mary's University charges $22,655/yr after aid ($90,620 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $64,072 ten years out — $15,712/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 5.8 years and returns $223,620 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Mount St. Mary's University degree take to pay off?
About 5.8 years. We divide the $90,620 four-year net cost by the $15,712/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Mount St. Mary's University cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $22,655/yr — about $90,620 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Mount St. Mary's University compare to other Maryland colleges?
It ranks #13 of 52 Maryland colleges we track by payback. Its $64,072 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $22,655 net price is above the national median of $16,902.