Academic Requirements

A student with a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (General Education Development or GED diploma, Test Assessing Secondary Completion or TASC diploma, or High School equivalency Test- HiSET) and whose academic background shows both strength and diversity is best prepared for a program of study at Mount Saint Mary College. Successful candidates typically complete the following coursework at the secondary level:

Secondary studies should reflect the program a student wishes to pursue at the college level. Nursing candidates must have taken at least one unit of biology and one unit of chemistry. See the Academic Programs section of the catalog for specific program requirements.

Students who are beginning college study one or more years after high school graduation, as well as students who have earned a high school equivalency diploma, are also encouraged to apply to Mount Saint Mary College. Neither the ACT nor the SAT is required of these students if the test had not been taken while the student was still in high school. The greatest emphasis will be placed on previous academic achievement, recent work, and educational experiences as well as recommendation letters. A personal interview with a member of Admissions is strongly advised.

All newly matriculated Mount Saint Mary College students are required to demonstrate minimal competency in writing, reading comprehension, and mathematics. These competencies may be determined by satisfactory achievement on screening tests to be given after acceptance into the College. In addition, SAT or ACT scores of incoming students may also be used as an initial screening. Transfer students who have completed courses with a C or better that address these competencies need not be tested. Any student who does not meet these standards will be required to take the appropriate measures and demonstrate competency in these areas.

The College shall make a commitment to all full-time students to provide the opportunity to complete a degree within four years; however, the need for remediation may extend the time required to complete a degree.