“Private Catholic university in East Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania founded by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
Immaculata University is a private, Catholic, coeducational institution founded in 1920 by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM). Located on a 373-acre suburban campus in Chester County, Pennsylvania — about 20 miles west of Philadelphia and a short drive from the Main Line — Immaculata was the first Catholic college for women in the greater Philadelphia area and became coeducational in 2005. The university is best known for its affordable, outcome-oriented education rooted in the IHM values of caring, learning, integrity, faith, teamwork, and service, and it carries a storied athletic legacy as the home of the Mighty Macs, the women's basketball team that won the first three AIAW national championships (1972, 1973, 1974) and effectively launched the modern era of women's college basketball. Academically, Immaculata offers more than 60 undergraduate majors and over 30 graduate and doctoral programs across career-focused disciplines including nursing, allied health, psychology, exercise science, business, education, nutrition, and criminal justice. Class sizes are small — student-to-faculty ratios hover around 10:1 — and instruction emphasizes personal mentorship, hands-on clinical or field placements, and Catholic-intellectual formation through the liberal arts core. Nursing, psychology, and kinesiology/exercise science are among the most popular programs, and graduate students can pursue a nationally recognized Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, a Doctor of Nursing Practice, and a Doctor of Education. Student life on Immaculata's wooded Malvern campus is close-knit and tradition-rich. Freshmen plant class ivy at the Grotto on arrival; the entire community gathers in the Rotunda for Carol Night each December; and pinning, ring, and senior ceremonies mark each milestone of a student's journey. More than 30 clubs and organizations, NCAA Division III athletics, campus ministry, and residence halls like Villa Maria, Marian, and Lourdes give students a welcoming home base while Philadelphia, King of Prussia, and the SEPTA rail line keep internships and weekend adventures within easy reach.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceNursing Priority Deadline
Priority deadline for nursing major applicants.
International — Fall
International students should apply before March 1 for fall entry to allow visa processing.
Rolling Admission
Immaculata admits on a rolling basis; decisions typically issued 3-4 weeks after a complete application is received.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$29,330
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Immaculata's traditional undergraduate college offers more than 60 majors grounded in a Catholic liberal arts core, with particular strength in the health sciences, business, and behavioral sciences.
Offers master's, doctoral, and certificate programs for working professionals with flexible evening, hybrid, and online formats.
Houses the BSN, RN-to-BSN, and DNP pathways along with nutrition and dietetics programs, including a nationally accredited Dietetic Internship.
Career-aligned business, accounting, finance, and cybersecurity programs that emphasize ethics and experiential learning with regional Philadelphia-area employers.
Liberal arts, education, and behavioral science programs including the signature Psy.D., undergraduate teacher certification tracks, and criminal justice.
4 years
A CCNE-accredited nursing program with early clinical immersion across Main Line Health and Philadelphia-area hospitals, consistently strong NCLEX pass rates, and a direct pathway to Immaculata's DNP.
5 years
APA-accredited practitioner-scholar doctorate in clinical psychology — one of the few offered at a Catholic university — that emphasizes applied practice, ethics, and integration of faith and psychology.
4 years
Hands-on lab and internship experiences prepare students for physical therapy, athletic training, and strength-and-conditioning graduate programs, with a strong record of professional-school placement.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $29,330
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
