Maria College of Albany

About Maria College of Albany

Maria College began in 1958 as a college created by the Religious Sisters of Mercy. It remains a Catholic institution shaped by the Mercy tradition, with service, human dignity, and ethical decision-making incorporated into its stated educational purpose. The college is private, nonprofit, independent, and coeducational rather than part of a public university system or a branch of another institution. Middle States identifies Maria College of Albany as an accredited institution at its main Albany campus, with associate, bachelor’s, and master’s credentials included in its approved scope. The college is operating and accepting applications as of August 2026. Its institutional accreditation page also describes a self-study process that began in spring 2026, indicating active preparation for a Middle States review rather than closure or loss of operating status. Maria’s identity is more specialized than that of a comprehensive university. Most current programs connect to healthcare, behavioral health, human services, or career preparation, although liberal arts and general studies remain available. Flexible scheduling—including day, evening, weekend, and online options—serves both recent school-leavers and adults balancing education with employment or family responsibilities. Prospective students should examine the delivery format and professional accreditation of their particular program, since clinical, fieldwork, and licensure requirements differ substantially across nursing, occupational therapy, counseling, and allied-health pathways.

Undergraduate admission requirements depend on applicant type and program. Maria’s current general requirements for associate and bachelor’s applicants include an application and high-school transcripts or an equivalent credential. Transfer applicants must also arrange official transcripts from previously attended colleges. The admissions-requirements page states a general expectation of at least a 2.5 college GPA or an overall high-school average of 80, but applicants should treat program-specific criteria as controlling. Nursing and other professionally oriented programs can require additional prerequisites, entrance testing, healthcare clearances, or progression standards. Maria publishes specific HESI-A2 and TEAS benchmarks for nursing applicants, so a general college admission decision should not be assumed to guarantee entry into nursing. Graduate admissions are separate. Applicants to the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, for example, must already possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and meet that program’s additional requirements. International applicants educated outside the United States are instructed to submit translated evidence of secondary-school completion through World Education Services when they have not attended a US college. Because official pages do not present one universal application deadline or a clearly stated institution-wide rolling-admission policy, applicants should confirm the available start term, document deadline, and program capacity directly with Admissions. Requirements should be rechecked for the intended 2026–2027 entry cycle, particularly for limited-capacity clinical programs.

Maria College offers a focused range of certificate and degree pathways rather than the breadth of a large university. Current associate programs include General Studies, Liberal Arts, Nursing, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Surgical Technology, and Radiologic Technology. Bachelor’s choices include online RN-to-BS Nursing, Health and Occupational Sciences, Psychology, Healthcare Management, Public Health, and Liberal Arts. At graduate level, the college lists a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and a master’s program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. The strongest concentration is in health and helping professions. Several pathways combine classroom study with clinical education, laboratory work, fieldwork, or preparation for a professional examination. These experiential requirements can impose additional scheduling, travel, clearance, and fee obligations, so applicants should consult the current program page and academic catalog rather than assuming that all courses can be completed online. The occupational therapy master’s program, for example, is described by the college as a 70-credit, full-time program completed over two years with face-to-face weekend meetings in Albany. Maria also publishes institutional learning outcomes centered on problem-solving, evidence-based resources and technology, communication, ethical decision-making, and service. Scheduling varies by program, with day, evening, weekend, and online options advertised. This makes format a meaningful selection factor: students should verify whether their intended pathway is designed for first-time students, licensed professionals completing a degree, or applicants who already hold a bachelor’s degree. The 2025–2026 catalog was the newest catalog available during this review; candidates entering in 2026–2027 should confirm curriculum and progression requirements directly with the college.

Key Highlights

• Founded by the Religious Sisters of Mercy in 1958
• Private, nonprofit, independent Catholic college
• Institutionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Operating main campus at 700 New Scotland Avenue in Albany

Student Life & Environment

Maria is primarily a commuter college, so student life is likely to feel different from that of a residential university. The college’s support structure is centered in the Frank E. O’Brien Jr. Student Success Center. Officially listed resources include academic success coaching, accessibility services, tutoring and writing assistance, counseling, international-student support, veteran and military support, pastoral care, and career services. These services may be especially useful for students returning to education or combining study with work. Maria does not describe traditional college-owned residence halls. Students seeking nearby accommodation can apply separately to University Heights College Suites, an independently operated complex within one mile of campus that houses students from colleges along New Scotland Avenue. Its furnished apartment-style units include kitchens, and the complex advertises security, fitness, media, and laundry facilities. Availability and pricing are controlled by the housing provider, and Maria warns that demand can produce a waiting list. The Catholic and Mercy heritage informs pastoral support and campus celebrations, but the college enrolls a coeducational student body and publishes nondiscrimination commitments. Prospective students should expect a compact, support-oriented environment in which campus engagement coexists with commuting, clinical placements, employment, and other off-campus responsibilities.

Location & Surroundings

Maria College’s main campus is at 700 New Scotland Avenue in a residential part of Albany, near the city’s healthcare and higher-education corridor. The setting offers access to New York’s Capital Region rather than a self-contained residential campus. Albany is the state capital, and the wider metropolitan area includes Troy, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga County communities. The campus is designed to accommodate commuters. Capital District Transportation Authority buses stop in front of the college, and Maria states that currently enrolled students can use more than 60 participating routes without an additional fare by swiping a valid student identification card. Drivers can obtain an annual campus parking pass, although the college cautions that the main lot can fill at busy times; designated overflow parking is available nearby. Students considering nearby accommodation should distinguish the college campus from University Heights College Suites. That apartment complex is within a mile but is independently operated. Its location can provide a short trip to class, while students living elsewhere should compare bus routes, parking availability, and travel to clinical or fieldwork sites before enrolling.

Costs & Career Outcomes

For 2026–2027, Maria’s official tuition page lists full-time undergraduate tuition of $9,785 per semester for 12–18 credits, plus a $400 technology and services fee per semester. The published fall-and-spring total is $20,370 before program-specific fees, books, housing, transportation, and personal expenses. Part-time undergraduate tuition is $825 per credit plus a $215 semester fee. The online RN-to-BS program has a separate $450-per-credit rate and a $390 semester fee. Graduate tuition for both Occupational Therapy and Clinical Mental Health Counseling is listed at $1,200 per credit, with a $1,100 technology and services fee each semester. Nursing, laboratory, clinical, occupational-therapy, and allied-health charges can add materially to the bill. The college’s cost-of-attendance estimates include indirect expenses, but it explicitly distinguishes those planning allowances from amounts billed by Maria. Students should request a personalized aid offer and check the 2026–2027 scholarship application; published opportunities have separate eligibility rules and should not be assumed to cover every program or expense. Career Services provides résumé and cover-letter assistance, career counseling, interview preparation, employer networking, and a job board with Capital Region openings. The academic portfolio is closely aligned with licensed or regulated professions, but earning a degree does not itself guarantee licensure or employment. Candidates should review professional accreditation, examination eligibility, clinical-placement obligations, and state licensing rules for their intended occupation before committing.