“A Catholic university steps from Washington, D.C., blending health, STEM, and business programs with unparalleled career access.”
Marymount University is a Catholic institution founded in 1950 by the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary (RSHM), situated on a 21-acre campus in Arlington, Virginia — minutes from Washington, D.C. by Metro. With approximately 3,400 students, Marymount combines an intimate academic community with the unmatched professional resources of the DMV (D.C., Maryland, Virginia) metropolitan area. In 2026, Marymount achieved its highest-ever US News national ranking (#273) and was named the #1 private university in Virginia — a milestone reflecting years of strategic academic investment and rising student outcomes. Academically, Marymount has purposefully aligned its offerings around high-demand career fields through three colleges: the College of Business, Innovation, Leadership, and Technology (BUILT); the College of Health and Education; and the College of Sciences and Humanities. Signature programs include nursing, information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, biomedical engineering, interior architecture, and fashion design. The university offers numerous STEM-designated degree programs, giving international graduates access to the 24-month STEM OPT extension in one of America's strongest job markets for tech and healthcare professionals. Following a 2023 academic restructuring, Marymount sharpened its focus on career-connected disciplines, making it a distinctively practical choice for students seeking high ROI on their degree. Campus life at Marymount is intimate and service-oriented, reflecting the RSHM mission of inclusive, values-driven education. More than 30 student clubs, NAIA athletic competition as the Saints, and a Metro-accessible Arlington location give students both community belonging and direct access to world-class internship opportunities. Amazon's HQ2 headquarters is less than two miles from campus. Federal agencies, international NGOs, tech firms, and the entire federal government are accessible from campus — making Marymount one of the most strategically positioned small universities in the United States for career-driven international students.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
National Universities
US News 2026
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceRolling Admission
Applications reviewed on a rolling basis; international students encouraged to apply early for housing and visa processing time
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$40,309
/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.
Marymount's business and technology college offering programs in business administration, management, information technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data analytics. Benefits from proximity to the Northern Virginia tech corridor and federal IT sector.
Home to Marymount's flagship nursing program as well as health sciences, counseling, and education degrees. Nursing is consistently the most popular and competitive undergraduate program, with strong clinical placement across the DC-area hospital network.
Offers programs blending STEM disciplines with the humanities and design fields. Home to biomedical engineering, biology, fashion design, interior architecture, and graphic and media design — fields where the DC/Northern Virginia market provides exceptional career pathways.
4 years
Marymount's most popular and competitive program, with strong clinical partnerships across the DC metro area's major hospital systems including Inova, MedStar, and Virginia Hospital Center. Graduates enter one of the highest-paying regional nursing markets in the U.S.
4 years
STEM-designated program positioned in the heart of the world's largest federal cybersecurity market. Northern Virginia hosts the highest concentration of cybersecurity employers in the U.S., including the NSA, DHS, and thousands of defense contractors. International graduates qualify for 24-month STEM OPT extension.
4 years
One of Marymount's signature programs with a long tradition of excellence. Students gain hands-on studio experience and access to the Washington D.C. fashion community, with notable alumni across the industry. The program blends design skills with business acumen.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $40,920
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.
