Mount St. Joseph University

About Mount St. Joseph University

Mount St. Joseph University began in 1920, when the Sisters of Charity opened a Catholic college for women with 20 students and 11 faculty members. The institution moved to its present Delhi Township campus in 1962, became formally coeducational in 1986, and changed its designation from the College of Mount St. Joseph to Mount St. Joseph University on July 1, 2014. The name change represented institutional continuity rather than a new university or merger. The Mount remains an independent, private nonprofit university with a Catholic identity. Its institutional accreditation comes from the Higher Learning Commission, and it holds authorization from the Ohio Department of Higher Education. Individual professional programs may also have specialized approvals or accreditation, so applicants to licensure-oriented fields should check the status and requirements of the particular program they are considering. The university serves both undergraduate and graduate students. Its current academic structure emphasizes professional preparation within a liberal arts and sciences framework. This makes it most relevant to students who want a relatively compact university environment while retaining access to bachelor’s, master’s, and professional doctoral pathways. The university’s Cincinnati location also supports work-based and community learning, although students should compare individual program formats, clinical placement expectations, and commuting needs before deciding whether the setting fits them.

First-year undergraduate admission uses an individualized, holistic review. The university considers the applicant’s college-preparatory curriculum, GPA, leadership, extracurricular involvement, personal context, and standardized test scores when submitted. New first-year applicants may apply test-optional; when that option is selected, ACT or SAT scores are neither required nor considered. The institution recommends completing its open-ended application questions and permits supporting items such as an essay, résumé, or recommendation letters. Applicants should use the university application or Common Application and arrange for required school records to be submitted. Transfer applicants follow a separate process. The university states that applicants with at least 12 earned semester hours from a postsecondary institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 are normally admitted in good standing. Those with fewer credits must also provide high-school or GED documentation. Credit applicability remains subject to university evaluation. International and graduate applicants have distinct documentation and program requirements. Graduate programs commonly require an application and official college transcripts, while professional programs can impose additional prerequisites. Published spring, summer, and fall 2026 undergraduate admission dates have passed or are no longer useful for a future entrant as of August 20, 2026. Applicants for 2027 should obtain their exact deadline directly from Admission rather than reusing the 2026 dates.

Mount St. Joseph University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral study. The 2026–2027 catalog, accurate as of July 1, 2026, is the appropriate starting point for current degree requirements and academic policies. Undergraduate options listed by the university include fields such as artificial intelligence, biology, biomedical sciences, business and communication, chemistry, computer science, criminology, education, English, graphic design, nursing, psychology, social work, and speech, language, and hearing sciences. Applicants should rely on the catalog rather than the older program list stored in the database because offerings and program titles can change. Graduate study includes areas such as business, education, nursing, physician assistant studies, reading science, social work, and speech-language pathology. Doctoral offerings are identified in education, nursing, reading science, and physical therapy. These advanced programs have distinct prerequisites, schedules, and professional accreditation considerations; inclusion on the institutional program page does not mean that every program uses the same admissions process. Undergraduate education combines study in a major with a liberal arts and sciences core. Experiential options include cooperative education, internships, service learning, and study abroad. Cooperative education is available across undergraduate majors, subject to eligibility and departmental approval, and can be completed alongside coursework. Academic support resources advertised by the university include advising, peer tutoring, accessibility services, a first-year experience, career support, and an academic exploration program for students who have not selected a major.

Key Highlights

• Founded in 1920 by the Sisters of Charity of Cincinnati
• Renamed Mount St. Joseph University on July 1, 2014
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Authorized by the Ohio Department of Higher Education
• Private nonprofit, coeducational institution with Catholic roots

Student Life & Environment

Student life combines residential, commuter, athletic, wellness, and involvement opportunities. Seton Residence Hall can accommodate more than 500 students in traditional single and double rooms as well as suites. All full-time undergraduates are eligible to apply for housing. The university’s current housing policy requires certain full-time first- and second-year students under age 21 to live on campus and participate in a meal program, particularly when they are not living with a parent or guardian or their home is beyond the specified commuting distance. Students should review the full policy for exemption details. The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership works with student organizations, while the university reports more than 40 clubs and organizations. Students can also participate in NCAA Division III athletics and intramural recreation. Residence Life, the Wellness Center, dining services, campus police, and academic and career support contribute to the broader campus experience. For fall 2026, the university announced refreshed common space in Seton Commons and a new game room. Dining serves both residential and commuter students, with meal-plan access in the main dining hall. Prospective students who prefer a large residential complex or extensive off-campus nightlife should visit in person and assess how the single-residence-hall model and suburban setting align with their expectations.

Location & Surroundings

The university is located at 5701 Delhi Road in Delhi Township, a suburb on Cincinnati’s western side. The institution describes the campus as approximately ten minutes from downtown Cincinnati, although actual travel times vary with traffic and transportation. The setting offers a quieter campus base with access to a larger metropolitan area rather than a central-city campus experience. Cincinnati provides potential access to employers, health systems, schools, nonprofit organizations, professional sports, arts venues, and community-service settings. That regional context is especially relevant because Mount St. Joseph incorporates cooperative education, clinical preparation, internships, and service learning into parts of its academic offering. Northern Kentucky is also accessible from the Cincinnati area. Students should investigate transportation before enrolling. A suburban campus may be convenient for drivers, while students without cars should compare transit routes, placement locations, and evening schedules. Those considering clinical, student-teaching, internship, or co-op programs should ask whether placements require travel beyond campus and whether personal transportation is expected.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, full-time undergraduate tuition is listed as $39,750 per year for 12–18 credits per semester. The annual general fee for students taking at least 12 credits is $1,250, and a new-student fee of $275 applies. Program-specific charges and tuition differentials may add to the total. These figures supersede the database’s stored $25,800 tuition value, which should not be used as a current estimate. Published 2026–2027 annual housing rates range from $6,300 for specified double rooms to $8,880 for suites; listed single-room rates range from $7,330 to $8,020. Meal-plan costs, books, transportation, personal expenses, and any course-specific fees must also be included when estimating the full cost of attendance. The university states that charges remain subject to change. Students should use the net-price calculator and a personalized financial-aid offer rather than treating the published price as the amount they will necessarily pay. Financial assistance can include institutional scholarships, grants, loans, and external aid. Scholarship terms vary by entry year, so applicants should confirm the award schedule for their cohort and complete the applicable FAFSA. Career preparation includes cooperative education, internships, service learning, study abroad, résumé and interview support, and employer engagement. The university reports a 95.9% positive-outcomes rate for the Class of 2023 with an 81.7% knowledge rate; because this is an older institutional survey, it should be read as historical context rather than a guaranteed result for future graduates.