University of Mary Academics, Total Cost, Jobs, Tuition, Campus Life, and Everything Students Need to Know Before Enrolling
Nestled on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River in Bismarck, North Dakota, sits an institution that defies easy categorization. Founded by Benedictine sisters in 1959, the University of Mary has evolved from a small women's college into a comprehensive university that somehow manages to feel both intimately connected to its religious roots and refreshingly modern in its approach to education. It's the kind of place where you might find a nursing student discussing bioethics with a monk between classes, or an engineering major participating in morning prayers before heading to the robotics lab.
I've spent considerable time researching this institution, and what strikes me most isn't just the statistics or the programs—it's the peculiar alchemy that happens when you combine Benedictine values with contemporary higher education. The result is something that feels increasingly rare in today's academic landscape: a university that genuinely seems to care about forming whole human beings rather than just credentialed professionals.
Academic Programs and the Benedictine Difference
The University of Mary offers over 60 undergraduate programs and numerous graduate degrees, but listing them would miss the point entirely. What matters is how these programs are taught. The Benedictine tradition emphasizes community, hospitality, and service—values that permeate the classroom experience in unexpected ways.
Take the nursing program, for instance. It's not just about mastering clinical skills (though the NCLEX pass rates suggest they do that quite well). Students learn to see healthcare through the lens of human dignity and service. The business programs incorporate discussions of ethical leadership that go beyond typical corporate social responsibility platitudes. Even the STEM fields integrate philosophical questions about technology's role in human flourishing.
The core curriculum reflects this holistic approach. Every student, regardless of major, engages with philosophy, theology, and the liberal arts. Some students initially grumble about taking "Theo 101" when they're pre-med majors, but I've noticed something interesting in my conversations with alumni—years later, many cite these courses as among the most influential in shaping their professional lives.
The Real Cost of Attendance (And Why It's More Complicated Than You Think)
Let's talk money, because that's what keeps most families up at night. For the 2023-2024 academic year, undergraduate tuition runs about $22,950. Add room and board (roughly $8,500), books and supplies ($1,200), and miscellaneous expenses, and you're looking at around $35,000-$37,000 per year for a residential student.
But here's where it gets interesting—and why you shouldn't immediately close this tab in sticker shock. The University of Mary has one of the more generous financial aid programs I've encountered. Nearly 100% of students receive some form of financial assistance, with the average aid package significantly reducing that intimidating sticker price. Many students I've spoken with end up paying closer to $15,000-$20,000 annually after grants and scholarships.
There's also something called the Benedictine Scholarship, which can cover up to full tuition for students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and leadership potential. The university seems genuinely committed to making education accessible, which aligns with their mission of service.
Graduate program costs vary significantly by field. The MBA program runs about $650 per credit hour, while specialized programs like the Doctor of Physical Therapy naturally command higher fees. What's noteworthy is the university's commitment to transparent pricing—they're upfront about costs and work with students to create manageable payment plans.
Campus Life: Prairie Winds and Community Bonds
The campus itself sprawls across 107 acres of North Dakota prairie, and yes, the winters are exactly as brutal as you're imagining. But there's something about facing -20°F temperatures together that bonds a community. The residence halls become more than just places to sleep; they transform into genuine communities where late-night study sessions evolve into philosophical debates and lifelong friendships form over shared struggles with organic chemistry.
About 65% of traditional undergraduates live on campus, creating a residential community of roughly 900 students. The university has invested heavily in residence life, with newer facilities like Roers Hall offering apartment-style living that feels more like young professional housing than typical dorm rooms.
What surprises many visitors is the campus's architectural coherence. Unlike many universities that look like architectural time capsules with buildings from every decade, Mary maintains a consistent aesthetic that blends modern functionality with subtle nods to its monastic heritage. The Harold Schafer Leadership Center, completed in recent years, exemplifies this approach—it's thoroughly contemporary but incorporates design elements that echo the contemplative spaces of traditional monasteries.
Athletics: More Than Just Games
The University of Mary competes in NCAA Division II as part of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, fielding 16 varsity sports. But reducing Marauder athletics to wins and losses misses what makes the program distinctive. The athletic department operates under the philosophy of "virtue-based coaching," which sounds like marketing speak until you see it in action.
I watched a basketball practice where the coach spent as much time discussing character development as defensive rotations. Student-athletes are expected to maintain high academic standards (the department consistently posts GPAs above 3.0) and participate in community service. It's not uncommon to see the football team serving meals at local shelters or the soccer teams running youth clinics in underserved neighborhoods.
The facilities have seen major upgrades in recent years. The Harold J. Miller Center provides training facilities that rival much larger programs, and the recent addition of wrestling and swimming programs shows the university's commitment to expanding opportunities. Yet there's still something refreshingly small-scale about Marauder athletics—you can actually get to know the players, and professors regularly attend games.
Enrollment Trends and Student Demographics
Current enrollment hovers around 3,800 students across all programs, with roughly 1,400 traditional undergraduates. This represents significant growth from the university's early days but maintains the small-school feel that many students cite as a primary draw.
The student body reflects North Dakota's demographics but with increasing diversity. International students from over 20 countries add global perspectives to classroom discussions. The university has made concerted efforts to recruit Native American students, recognizing both the historical presence of indigenous peoples in the region and the need for greater representation in higher education.
What's particularly interesting is the mix of traditional and non-traditional students. The university's online and accelerated programs attract working professionals, creating classrooms where 19-year-olds learn alongside 40-year-old parents returning to complete degrees. This generational mixing enriches discussions in ways that homogeneous age cohorts simply can't match.
Graduate Programs: Professional Development with Purpose
The University of Mary's graduate offerings have expanded dramatically over the past two decades. The Gary Tharaldson School of Business offers MBA programs with concentrations in areas like project management, healthcare management, and virtuous leadership (yes, that's actually a concentration, and no, it's not as hokey as it sounds).
Healthcare programs dominate the graduate landscape, reflecting both regional needs and the university's strengths. The Doctor of Physical Therapy program has gained recognition for producing clinicians who combine technical expertise with genuine compassion. The Master of Science in Nursing offers tracks for nurse practitioners, with a particular emphasis on rural healthcare—a critical need in the Upper Midwest.
Perhaps most intriguing is the Master of Arts in Catholic Studies, which attracts students from across the theological spectrum. It's rigorous enough to prepare students for doctoral work while remaining accessible to those seeking personal enrichment rather than academic careers.
Career Services and Post-Graduation Success
The Career Services office takes an unusually holistic approach to job placement. Rather than simply polishing resumes and scheduling interviews, they engage students in deeper conversations about vocation and calling. This might sound impractical, but the placement rates suggest otherwise—consistently above 95% of graduates find employment or enter graduate school within six months of graduation.
The university's location in North Dakota's capital provides unique internship opportunities in government, healthcare (Bismarck is a regional medical hub), and energy industries. Alumni networks, while smaller than those of massive state universities, tend to be remarkably engaged. I've heard multiple stories of alumni going out of their way to mentor current students or create job opportunities for recent graduates.
Starting salaries vary widely by field, but graduates generally report satisfaction with their career trajectories. More tellingly, alumni surveys consistently show high levels of career satisfaction years after graduation, suggesting the university's emphasis on finding meaningful work rather than just any work pays long-term dividends.
Notable Alumni and Their Paths
While the University of Mary might not boast household names among its alumni, its graduates have made significant impacts in their fields. Dr. Patricia Dittoe, who graduated in the early years, went on to become a pioneering researcher in women's health. Tom Freier, a business school alum, built a successful chain of automotive dealerships while maintaining the ethical business practices emphasized in his education.
More recent graduates include Sarah Vogel, who clerked for the North Dakota Supreme Court before establishing a practice focused on agricultural law and Native American rights. Father Joshua Waltz, a graduate of both undergraduate and graduate programs, now serves as rector of a seminary, bringing his Mary education full circle.
What's striking about these alumni stories isn't necessarily the heights of fame achieved but the consistency with which graduates describe their education as transformative. They speak less about specific courses and more about how the university's approach to education shaped their worldview and approach to their professions.
The Benedictine Living Community: A Unique Aspect
One of the University of Mary's most distinctive features is the presence of Benedictine sisters and priests who live on campus and participate actively in university life. This isn't a historical artifact—these religious members teach courses, mentor students, and maintain a prayer schedule that students can join.
The Annunciation Monastery on campus serves as both a spiritual center and a living reminder of the university's roots. Students of all faiths (or no faith) often speak about the profound impact of interacting with people who've dedicated their lives to contemplation and service. It adds a dimension to campus life that's increasingly rare in American higher education.
Technology and Innovation on the Prairie
Despite its traditional roots, the University of Mary has embraced educational technology with surprising enthusiasm. Online programs serve students across the country, and the campus features modern simulation labs for healthcare programs that rival those at much larger institutions.
The engineering programs, relatively new additions to the curriculum, benefit from partnerships with regional energy companies. Students work on real-world projects involving renewable energy and sustainable technology—particularly relevant given North Dakota's position in American energy production.
Challenges and Honest Assessments
No institution is without its challenges, and intellectual honesty demands acknowledging them. The University of Mary's location, while offering unique opportunities, can feel isolated to students from urban areas. Bismarck, with a population around 75,000, offers limited entertainment options compared to traditional college towns.
The university's religious identity, while central to its mission, can create tension. Some students feel the Catholic influence is too pervasive; others wish it were stronger. Navigating these competing expectations while maintaining institutional identity remains an ongoing challenge.
Financial pressures facing all small private colleges affect Mary as well. Maintaining affordable tuition while funding necessary improvements and competitive faculty salaries requires constant balancing. The university has managed this better than many peers, but it remains a persistent concern.
Making the Decision: Is Mary Right for You?
After all this exploration, the question remains: should you consider the University of Mary? The answer, unsurprisingly, depends on what you're seeking from your college experience.
If you want the anonymous experience of a massive research university, where you can disappear into crowds and reinvent yourself every semester, Mary probably isn't your place. If you're looking for cutting-edge research facilities in theoretical physics or a party school atmosphere, look elsewhere.
But if you're drawn to the idea of education as transformation rather than just information transfer, if you value being known by your professors and challenged to consider not just what you'll do but who you'll become, then Mary deserves serious consideration. The university offers something increasingly rare: an education that takes seriously the formation of both mind and character.
The financial investment is significant but often more manageable than initial numbers suggest. The return on investment extends beyond starting salaries to include the harder-to-quantify benefits of mentorship, community, and personal growth.
Students who thrive at Mary tend to be those comfortable with—or at least open to—big questions about meaning, purpose, and service. They're willing to engage with religious tradition even if they don't share it. They value community over anonymity and depth over breadth in their relationships.
Final Reflections
In an era when higher education often feels transactional—pay tuition, receive degree, get job—the University of Mary offers something different. It's an institution that still believes in the transformative power of liberal arts education, the value of community, and the importance of forming not just professionals but citizens and human beings.
This approach isn't for everyone, and that's okay. But for those who resonate with its mission, the University of Mary provides an educational experience that lingers long after the last final exam. Alumni consistently report that their education shaped not just their careers but their entire approach to life—a claim that sounds grandiose until you meet enough graduates to recognize its truth.
The University of Mary stands as a reminder that there are still places in American higher education where the life of the mind and the life of the spirit intersect, where professional preparation and personal formation go hand in hand, and where the ancient wisdom of Benedictine tradition meets the challenges of the 21st century. In a world that often feels fragmented and purposeless, that's no small achievement.
Authoritative Sources:
National Center for Education Statistics. "College Navigator - University of Mary." U.S. Department of Education. nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?q=university+of+mary&s=all&id=200280
The University of Mary. "Official University Website." umary.edu
Peterson's. "University of Mary Profile." petersons.com/college-search/university-of-mary-000_10003445.aspx
U.S. News & World Report. "University of Mary Rankings." usnews.com/best-colleges/university-of-mary-2008
The Chronicle of Higher Education. "University of Mary Institutional Profile." chronicle.com/stats/enrollment/institution/200280
North Dakota University System. "University of Mary Data and Statistics." ndus.edu
NCAA Division II. "University of Mary Athletics." ncaa.org
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). "University of Mary Institutional Characteristics." nces.ed.gov/ipeds/