U.S. College Profile: Mount St. Mary’s

Background & History

• The university was founded in 1808, making it among the oldest independent Catholic institutions in the United States.
• Its Catholic heritage remains central: it started with religious instruction and seminary training, and retains a seminary on campus today.
• Over time, Mount evolved from a small religious college with a handful of professors and no specialisation to a modern liberal-arts university. Now it offers a broad variety of academic paths.
• The campus occupies a large, scenic, 1,400-acre site in Emmitsburg, Maryland — nestled in the mountains, with natural beauty and historic grounds.
• Part of the campus’s identity is religious and spiritual: a major feature is the National Shrine Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes — a grotto first built in 1875. This shrine draws many visitors and pilgrims each year.

The Rugby Program at Mount St. Mary’s

• The men’s rugby team at Mount is considered a “premier sport” — not just a casual club unlike most US College Men’s Rugby Programs
• The program has real institutional support: when it was elevated to premier-sport status, the head coach (Jay Myles) became a full-time university employee, scholarships were introduced, and the program’s budget was increased to support expansion.
• The rugby team has been historically successful: the men’s team won a national championship in 2016 under the National Small College Rugby Organisation (NSCRO).
• Most recently, in April 2023, the men’s team won the premier division of the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) 7s National Tournament, defeating Indiana University 19–5 in the final.
• The coaching staff invests in international-style training: in past years, players and assistant coaches travelled to New Zealand for training, applying a “Southern Hemisphere” style of play to elevate the team’s competitiveness.
• The program’s success reflects more than skill — it’s framed as part of the university’s ethos: forging “ethical leaders” who build “brotherhood,” discipline, and commitment.

So if you’re looking at Mount with rugby in mind: the program isn’t a casual extra — it’s a serious, supported, competitive program with national-level success and institutional commitment.

Academics, Majors & Programs

• Mount offers 80+ undergraduate majors, minors, concentrations across its liberal-arts tradition, plus a range of graduate, adult-learner, and certificate programs.
• Some of the most popular majors at Mount are:
  • Business / Commerce / Business Administration & Management
  • Criminology
  • Biology / Biological Sciences
  • Elementary / Secondary Education and Teaching
  • Psychology / Research & Experimental Psychology
  • Accounting, Information Sciences, and Health-related fields also have significant enrolments.
• The biology program, for instance, emphasises experiential learning and undergraduate research, aiming to prepare students for medical school, graduate study, or careers in biotechnology, public health, environmental science, or related fields.
• The faculty are well-qualified: a high percentage hold terminal degrees; the school blends liberal-arts breadth with professional preparation.
• Mount also offers accelerated or dual-degree paths (for example, a “biotechnology-management” program combining science and business), making it flexible for different student goals.

Taken together: the academics at Mount balance classical liberal arts and modern professional preps, offering a wide palette of majors and the chance to combine disciplines if desired.

Campus Life, Student Experience & Community

• Student life is vibrant: today Mount hosts 70+ student clubs and honor societies, giving students many opportunities beyond academics.
• On the athletics side: in addition to rugby, Mount fields 24 varsity men’s and women’s teams (as part of NCAA Division I), plus multiple club and intramural teams.
• Housing: Many students live on campus. A significant percentage of freshmen live on campus, and there are diverse housing options — from residence halls to residential cottages, giving students flexibility and community atmosphere.
• Dining and meal plans are available for residents; campus life is more than classrooms — there are common spaces, social activities, and a strong sense of community.
• Campus facilities include dedicated academic buildings (science, arts, administration), athletic & recreation facilities (arena, sports complex), fine arts facilities, and the historic/spiritual Grotto and seminary — giving a blend of academic, athletic, cultural, and spiritual life.

What Makes Mount St. Mary’s Distinct

• Catholic and liberal-arts tradition: As one of the oldest independent Catholic universities in the U.S., Mount combines faith-based heritage with a modern, inclusive liberal-arts education.
• Blend of breadth and depth: With many majors and options for dual degrees or interdisciplinary study, students can shape a tailored education — whether they lean toward business, sciences, education, social sciences, or theology.
• Strong support for athletics + extra-curriculars: Programs like men’s rugby (with scholarships, full-time coaching, national-level competition) show that Mount invests in more than just academics — it values holistic development: physical, social, ethical.
• Community vibe + ample opportunity: Small student-faculty ratios, active student clubs, a mix of housing and social spaces, religious/spiritual components (like the Grotto), and campus traditions — all give a sense of a tight-knit, multifaceted campus community.