University of Mount Saint Vincent

About University of Mount Saint Vincent

Mount Saint Vincent combines a traditional undergraduate college with adult, professional, online and graduate education. Its identity is rooted in the Catholic and ecumenical tradition of the Sisters of Charity, with institutional learning goals emphasizing analysis, critical thinking, communication, and ethical and religious inquiry. Students do not need to be Catholic, but applicants should expect the mission and core curriculum to give ethical reflection, service and shared learning a visible place in the educational experience. The institution began as the Academy of Mount Saint Vincent in Manhattan in 1847 and moved to Riverdale in 1859. It became the College of Mount Saint Vincent in 1911, awarded its first bachelor’s degrees in 1914, and adopted the University of Mount Saint Vincent name on January 1, 2024. This history matters for record matching: the current university and the former college are the same continuing institution. MSCHE lists Mount Saint Vincent as a private nonprofit institution with reaffirmed accreditation and approved bachelor’s and master’s credential levels. Its profile describes a small mixed undergraduate and graduate institution without a research designation. The university’s own current facts page reports associate, bachelor’s and master’s awards, plus post-master’s certificates, and more than 75 majors and minors. Prospective students should evaluate it primarily as a teaching-focused institution offering personal-scale study, professional preparation and access to New York City rather than as a large research university.

For 2026–27 first-year admission, applicants are expected to have completed secondary school with at least four academic subjects in each year. The official catalog says the undergraduate application is free, decisions are made on a rolling basis, and a self-reported GPA is used during review. An offer remains conditional on successful completion of the final school year and receipt of a final official transcript. The current first-year guidance also requests a personal essay, high-school transcript and teacher or counselor recommendation. Domestic first-year applicants are test-optional: SAT and ACT scores are not required but may be submitted if the student believes they strengthen the application. This differs from the university’s international process. International applicants must provide academic records and, when applicable, certified translations and proof of English proficiency. The current international page lists minimum results including online TOEFL 80, IELTS 6.5, PTE 58 and Duolingo 105, with specified waiver routes. International first-year applicants must submit an accepted form of test score. The international admissions page publishes fall deadlines of November 15 for early action and March 1 as the final deadline, with October 15 for spring entry. Those dates are specifically presented for international applicants and should not automatically be applied to domestic candidates. Transfer, graduate, nursing and professional programs have distinct procedures. Applicants should use the pathway-specific checklist and confirm deadlines for their intended term before submission.

Undergraduate study spans five broad academic areas: business; education; humanities, communication and art; natural and mathematical sciences; and social sciences, alongside the Saint Joseph’s School of Nursing. Current offerings include bachelor’s programs in accounting, business administration, healthcare administration, communication, studio art, theatre, English, history, languages, biology, biochemistry, chemistry, data analytics, mathematics, nursing, psychology, public policy and sociology. Some subjects are offered as minors or concentrations rather than standalone majors, so students should verify the exact award attached to any intended field. All Undergraduate College students complete a shared core extending across four years. The 2026–27 catalog places First-Year Experience, a First-Year Seminar, two Writing in Context courses and modern-language study at the beginning of that curriculum. Later requirements broaden study across humanities, social sciences, mathematics, natural science, ethics and religion. Small seminar-style first-year courses are intended to develop engagement, reasoning and oral communication. The university also offers accelerated and joint pathways involving professional fields, while its professional and graduate portfolio includes master’s study in education, nursing, management, business and physician assistant studies. Some joint programs lead to an award from a partner institution, so applicants should distinguish Mount Saint Vincent degrees from jointly arranged progression routes. Online undergraduate and graduate options are also available. Academic support includes advising, an Academic Resource Center, accessibility services, undergraduate research opportunities and internship coordination. Students considering nursing, teacher certification or physician assistant study should check the relevant program’s separate progression, clinical placement, licensure and accreditation requirements before enrolling.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1847 by the Sisters of Charity of New York
• Renamed University of Mount Saint Vincent on January 1, 2024
• MSCHE accreditation reaffirmed in June 2025
• Private nonprofit institution with bachelor’s and master’s credentials

Student Life & Environment

The Riverdale campus supports both residential and commuter students. The university reports six residence halls with wireless access, lounges, kitchens and study areas. Its facilities also include science and nursing laboratories, a student activities center, library, theater and dance spaces, media and art facilities, athletic areas and campus dining. For 2026–27, housing selection is available to eligible full-time, degree-seeking undergraduates in good financial and conduct standing, subject to space and university procedures. The official student organization directory includes academic and pre-professional groups, cultural associations, community-service organizations, student government, a campus activities board, performing groups and recreation clubs. Full-time undergraduates generally may participate, although individual groups can have continuing-membership expectations. Cultural organizations include groups focused on African, Black, Caribbean, Filipino, Latin and Muslim student communities. Athletics and recreation provide another route into campus life. The university reports 13 varsity sports competing in NCAA Division III’s Skyline Conference, along with a fitness center and other athletic facilities. Student Affairs also includes campus ministry, counseling, health services, safety, residence life and programming for commuters. Commuter assistants help first-year commuters adjust to college demands and campus involvement, and lockers are available to full-time commuters. Students should confirm current team rosters, club activity and residence availability directly, since participation and housing inventory can change by term.

Location & Surroundings

The main campus is at 6301 Riverdale Avenue in Riverdale, a residential section of the northwestern Bronx. The university describes a 70-acre setting of lawns and wooded hills overlooking the Hudson River, about 12 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. This gives students a campus environment that is visually and spatially distinct from a dense downtown campus while keeping New York City’s cultural, professional and educational resources within reach. Location can be a practical advantage for internships, field experiences and off-campus activities, particularly in business, media, public service, healthcare and education. Travel time, however, depends on the destination and transit connection; students should test the commute to likely internship sites rather than interpret “minutes from Manhattan” as a uniform journey. The campus is near mass-transit options, and the university publishes separate shuttle and transit information. Riverdale’s setting may appeal to students seeking residential campus life inside New York City. Applicants should also consider typical city expenses, late-night transportation and whether they prefer the quieter northern Bronx environment to a central-Manhattan location. Some professional and graduate instruction occurs at additional New York-area sites, so those students should verify the location attached to their specific program.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–27, the university publishes full-time undergraduate tuition of $46,500 per year for 12 to 18 credits per semester. Mandatory listed annual charges for full-time students include an $800 technology fee, $420 student activity fee and $700 academic service fee. Student health insurance is listed at $3,006 but may be waived with documentation of appropriate coverage. Shared-occupancy housing and food are $16,200 per year; single or suite occupancy is $18,600. Books, transportation, personal spending and program-specific costs can add to the total, and nursing students may face substantial clinical and equipment expenses. Students should compare these published charges with a personalized financial-aid offer rather than judging affordability from sticker price alone. The 2026–27 catalog says first-time aid applicants must file the FAFSA. Mount Saint Vincent offers academic scholarships and need-based institutional grants, while eligible students may also use federal and state aid. Scholarship continuation can require full-time enrollment and a specified cumulative GPA. International students are considered for merit scholarships, but they must document sufficient funds for the remaining cost before an I-20 is issued. Career preparation includes advising and supervised internships. The university’s standard credit-bearing internship carries three credits for 120 hours, requires approval by the academic department and career office, and can be taken in different academic sessions. New York City broadens the potential employer and placement pool, but no placement, salary or employment outcome should be assumed. Students should ask for current program-level outcomes, especially in licensed professions, and compare likely borrowing with entry-level earnings in their intended field.