“The only women's university in the LA metro — Catholic, Sisters of St. Joseph-sponsored, with two iconic campuses and a launchpad-strong nursing pipeline.”
Mount Saint Mary's University (MSMU) is a private Catholic university in Los Angeles, founded in 1925 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. It is the only women's university in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, and the traditional undergraduate program remains primarily for women — roughly 88% of undergraduates are women. Men are admitted into the Weekend/Evening & Online College, all graduate programs, and the co-educational nursing programs. The university's identity is rooted in the Sisters of St. Joseph charism: serving 'the dear neighbor' through education that prioritizes social mobility, ethical leadership, and service to Los Angeles' diverse communities. MSMU operates two distinctive Southern California campuses sixteen miles apart. The 56-acre Chalon Campus sits high in the Santa Monica Mountains in Brentwood, with views of the Getty Center and the Pacific Ocean, and houses the traditional women's undergraduate program. The Doheny Campus, in the West Adams district near USC and downtown LA, occupies a 20-acre cluster of historic Queen Anne and Victorian mansions and serves graduate, accelerated, and Weekend/Evening & Online College students. In 2022 the Mount opened a third location, the Hollywood Studio on Hollywood Boulevard across from Grauman's Chinese Theater, dedicated to the Film, Media and Communication department. Academically, MSMU is best known for its nursing pipeline — its BSN program, founded in 1949, produced California's first BSN graduates in 1952, and pre-nursing remains the most popular first-year choice. Other strengths include film and television (taught by working LA industry professionals), education, biological sciences, and psychology. U.S. News consistently places MSMU among the top regional universities in the West and as a national leader in social mobility, reflecting the Mount's mission to graduate first-generation, Latina, and underrepresented women into professional careers.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Regional Universities West
US News Best Colleges 2026
Top Performers on Social Mobility (Regional Universities West)
US News Best Colleges 2026
Test Free — No test scores needed — they won't be reviewed even if submitted.
Official SourceEarly Action (priority for Le Puy Founders' Scholarship & Honors)
Decisions by mid-January
Priority (Direct Entry to Nursing)
Decisions by end of February
Recommended International (visa processing)
Recommended deadline for F-1 international students to allow time for I-20 and visa appointment
Final International Deadline (Fall)
Final deadline for international Fall applicants
This university does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions.
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$49,564 – $51,052
/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.
MSMU's signature program. Offers traditional BSN (Chalon, women only), Accelerated BSN for second-degree students at Doheny (co-ed), MSN, and DNP. Produced California's first BSN graduates in 1952; clinical placements across LA's major hospital systems.
LA-based film program with a dedicated Hollywood Studio across from Grauman's Chinese Theater. Faculty are working industry professionals; facilities include a 1,200 sq ft shooting stage, recording studio, sound editing bays, and a podcast studio.
Biological, physical, and health sciences with strong pre-health pathways into nursing, pre-med, pre-PA, and biotech. Small lab sections and faculty mentorship are core to the experience.
Teacher preparation and education leadership programs at undergraduate, credential, and graduate level. Strong placement into LA Unified and Catholic school networks.
Liberal arts core including psychology, social work, religious studies, English, and business. Grounds the women's undergraduate program in the Sisters of St. Joseph tradition of ethical leadership and service.
4 years
MSMU produced California's first BSN graduates in 1952 and remains one of the state's most established nursing pipelines. Direct Entry to Nursing (priority Jan 15) lets first-year applicants secure a BSN seat at admission rather than reapplying after two years.
4 years
Hollywood-based undergraduate film program with emphases in Cinematography, Documentary, Producing, Writing, Photography, and Audio Production. Hollywood Studio location across from Grauman's Chinese Theater puts students inside the working industry.
1 years
Co-ed 12-month second-degree pathway at Doheny for applicants who already hold a bachelor's in another field. Heavy clinical placement across LA hospital systems; one of the fastest routes from a non-nursing degree to RN licensure in Southern California.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $49,564
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.
