Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Bismarck, North Dakota
78.3% Acceptance Rate
University of Mary — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
78.3%Acceptance Rate
3.37Avg GPA
1208Avg SAT
$32,879Annual Cost
$60,909Grad Salary
17.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
78.3%
Avg GPA
3.37
Avg SAT
1208
Selectivity
Inclusive
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
1168–1238
Need-Based Aid
17.8% receive Pell
University of Mary is a private, Catholic, Benedictine institution in North Dakota known for its commitment to academic excellence, service, and character development. Offering a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, the university fosters a supportive and engaged campus community that encourages both intellectual and spiritual growth. Its focus on preparing students for leadership in their professional and community lives makes it a meaningful and high-value path for those seeking a values-centered education.
University of Mary Acceptance Rate
University of Mary (Umary) runs an open-access admission policy. With a 78.3% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in. They are worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Inclusive
Selectivity scale: Inclusive — 78.3% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.37 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.17 – 3.36
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.92
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
University of Mary Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
University of Mary follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Umary reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Umary GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Umary is 3.37. That makes admissions here competitive, but not extremely selective. Most admitted students carry a mix of A's and B's.
In the 3.07–3.37 range, a high SAT or ACT score still carries real weight.
Most schools report GPA on a weighted or unweighted 4.0 scale differently. For an unweighted profile like this, students with AP/IB coursework typically carry a weighted GPA of 3.57–3.77.Umary GPA & Admission Outlook
Assessment: Holistic review is critical for admission.
Recommended Strategy: Requires Contextual Factors (Leadership, hardship, or talent).
Where your GPA falls in this range shapes what the rest of your application needs to do:
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
3.37 – 4.00
Strategic Reach
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
3.17 – 3.36
Competitive Match
Focus on SAT/ACT Compensation
2.97 – 3.16
Secondary Reach
Personal Statement & Impact
Below 2.96
Institutional Reach
Requires Significant Contextual Factors
Evaluation Metrics That Matter Here
- Private Benedictine Catholic university in Bismarck, ND (founded 1959 by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery) - the only Catholic university in North Dakota, not to be confused with the University of Maryland; ~75% acceptance, rolling admission, roughly 2.5 GPA / ACT 19 guideline, ~$30 application fee, first-year tuition/fees around $18,500.
- Year-Round Campus (YRC) compresses a bachelor's to about 2.6 years (bachelor's-plus-master's in ~4) by adding a summer semester at the prior year's frozen tuition rate, with fall/spring aid renewing onto summer and up to $2,400 via Theodore Roosevelt Fellows.
- Tuition-free academies in nursing, accounting, and elementary education (plus full-tuition options in engineering and humanities); ND Career Builders adds up to $8,000 for juniors/seniors but requires a three-year in-state work commitment.
- Distinctive: a nursing program promoted as #1-ranked for NCLEX-RN preparation, a Rome, Italy campus at the same tuition/room/board as Bismarck (limited to ~35 students/semester), and a guaranteed free fifth year if a student doesn't graduate in four.
- Rigor Over Raw Number: A slightly lower GPA (say 3.8) paired with multiple AP or IB courses often outweighs a flat 4.0 from a standard curriculum.
- Trajectory Matters: A lower start in 9th or 10th grade, followed by a clear upward trend senior year, reads as academic resilience rather than a weakness.
Data verified via IPEDS, College Scorecard (Nov 2025) and the Common Data Set (CDS). Expert Review led by Sohaib Khan and Dr. Waseem.
Check Your Admission Chances at Umary
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on University of Mary's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
University of Mary (Umary) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Umary is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Umary Without SAT or ACT?
Umary neither requires nor recommends test scores. Submit yours only if it's above the state or national average. Otherwise, leaving it off works in your favor.
University of Mary Average SAT Score: 1208
The average SAT score of admitted students at University of Mary is 1208 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 1208 — Slightly Competitive
This sits close to the national average SAT score.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1238 SAT) to stand out. Below average? University of Mary allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 1168, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Umary. Retaking multiple times is completely normal. Most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 1208 | 1168 | 1238 |
Below 1168, you're behind most admitted students; at 1238 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 1200
Can I get into University of Mary (Umary) with a 1250 SAT?
A 1250 SAT puts you ahead of most of Umary's admitted class, but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Umary
Accessible Strategy: Academic Foundation
Umary is accessible to students who show core competency. Focus on proving readiness for college-level work and locking in financial aid.
Enroll in Year-Round Campus to Finish a Bachelor's in 2.6 Years at a Frozen Tuition Rate
University of Mary's signature structural advantage is Year-Round Campus (YRC): by adding a full summer semester, students complete a standard 8-semester bachelor's in about 2.6 years - and can finish a bachelor's plus master's in roughly four. The financial mechanics are the real edge: each summer you pay the prior academic year's frozen tuition rate, your fall/spring scholarships and financial aid renew onto summer terms, and YRC students can join the Theodore Roosevelt Fellows program for up to $2,400 in additional scholarships. Decide on YRC at enrollment so advising can sequence your courses from day one; retrofitting the accelerated calendar later wastes the tuition-freeze and aid-renewal savings that make it worthwhile.
Target a Tuition-Free Academy - Nursing, Accounting, Elementary Ed, Engineering, or Humanities
Mary's most motivated students can complete a degree entirely tuition-free through its academies in nursing, accounting, and elementary education, with full-tuition scholarship opportunities also in engineering and humanities. These are premier, disciplined-student tracks tied to the 2.6-year YRC model, so they reward applicants who arrive with a clear major and strong academic habits. If you're aiming at one of these fields, apply early, signal the specific academy, and back it up with the grades and drive these competitive awards demand. Stack North Dakota's Career Builders program (up to $8,000 for juniors/seniors entering ND high-demand jobs) and health-partner full-tuition awards (respiratory therapy via CHI-St. Alexius) where eligible.
Aim at the #1-Ranked NCLEX Nursing and Health-Sciences Core
University of Mary centers its identity on healthcare, and its nursing program has been promoted as the nation's number-one-ranked for NCLEX-RN pass preparation, alongside strong occupational therapy, physical therapy, and a growing Hamm School of Engineering. For health-bound applicants this is the strategic anchor: pursue the nursing academy (potentially tuition-free), plan for the licensure-focused curriculum, and use Mary's small classes and ~14:1 ratio for the faculty mentorship these clinical programs demand. Naming a specific health-science trajectory - and the academy or scholarship that funds it - positions you as a fit for a university whose mission and resources concentrate heavily on producing career-ready healthcare professionals for the region.
Leverage the Rome Campus and Guaranteed 4-Year Graduation in Your Decision
Mary offers a distinctive Benedictine, values-driven experience with concrete perks worth naming: a semester or Maymester at its Rome, Italy campus for the SAME tuition, room, and board as Bismarck (with all scholarships and aid applying - you only add airfare and an excursion fee), and a guarantee of a free fifth year if you don't finish in four. Space in Rome is limited to about 35 students per semester and requires one prior semester in good standing, so plan for it early. As the only Catholic university in North Dakota, Mary rewards applicants who connect to its mission of leadership in service of truth; framing your goals around that identity, plus the Rome and on-time-graduation guarantees, signals authentic fit.
Expert Insight:
This is the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota - a small Benedictine Catholic university - not the University of Maryland; applicants sometimes conflate them and misjudge selectivity, cost, and programs entirely. On substance: the flagship affordability pathways are conditional. Year-Round Campus delivers its savings only if you commit at enrollment so courses sequence correctly and your aid renews onto summer terms, and the tuition-free academies are competitive, discipline-specific tracks - not guaranteed to every admit. North Dakota's Career Builders scholarship also requires a three-year post-graduation work commitment in ND, and recipients who leave the state early may have to repay the funds.
Umary Profile
Full Name
University of Mary (Umary)
City
Bismarck
State
North Dakota
ZIP Code
58504
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Umary Degree Worth It?
Umary offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes. The figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $50,600, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.2%.
How much does a degree from Umary Cost?
The sticker price is $32,879/year, but the average net price students actually pay, after Pell and federal grants, is typically much lower.
17.8% of students receive a Pell Grant and 45.5% take federal loans at Umary. File your FAFSA early and list Umary as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Umary Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $60,909. That's about 50% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than University of Mary. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham-Southern College | Birmingham, AL | 1197 | 24 |
| University of Arkansas | Fayetteville, AR | 1174 | 25 |
| Harding University | Searcy, AR | 1187 | 25 |
| Dominican University of California | San Rafael, CA | 1194 | 26 |
| University of New Haven | West Haven, CT | 1190 | NA |
| Nova Southeastern University | Fort Lauderdale, FL | 1182 | 25 |
| Savannah College of Art and Design | Savannah, GA | 1178 | 25 |
| Spelman College | Atlanta, GA | 1184 | 24 |
| Hawaii Pacific University | Honolulu, HI | 1180 | 25 |
| The College of Idaho | Caldwell, ID | 1166 | 24 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as University of Mary. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samford University | Birmingham, AL | 1203 | 26 |
| Ouachita Baptist University | Arkadelphia, AR | 1212 | 25 |
| Eastern Connecticut State University | Willimantic, CT | 1200 | NA |
| University of Hartford | West Hartford, CT | 1207 | 29 |
| Quinnipiac University | Hamden, CT | 1212 | 27 |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than University of Mary. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham, AL | 1251 | 26 |
| The University of Alabama | Tuscaloosa, AL | 1287 | 28 |
| University of Arizona | Tucson, AZ | 1261 | 26 |
| Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott | Prescott, AZ | 1256 | 27 |
| Biola University | La Mirada, CA | 1258 | 27 |
Degree Programs at Umary
Bachelor Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Umary Admissions
Median graduate earnings at University of Mary run about $60,909 a year.
University of Mary costs roughly $32,879 a year, and most students combine this with scholarships or aid.
University of Mary's Pell Grant rate of 17.8% sits below the national average. Merit-based aid is worth checking regardless of income.
At 78.3%, University of Mary's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
Admitted students at University of Mary average a 3.37 GPA.
University of Mary doesn't publish a hard GPA floor, but landing at or above 3.07 keeps you in the typical applicant range; below it, lean on essays and recommendations.
Below 2.97, University of Mary becomes a harder reach, though a strong test score, meaningful activities, and AP/IB coursework can still make a real case.
A strong SAT score matters at University of Mary — aim above 1208, ideally within the 1168–1238 range admitted students typically fall in.
University of Mary follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The application fee is 25. Fee waivers may be available. Check with admissions.
Yes, transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most, along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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