The University of Saint Mary (USM) was established in 1859 as St. Mary’s Institute. It was originally a school for women sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. At present, it is a private, coeducational liberal arts university offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees both on-campus and online.
Online programs offered include the Master of Arts in Teaching, RN to Bachelor of Science in Nursing and the MBA Program. Applicants for the Master of Arts in Teaching must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution. Other admissions requirements include official transcripts, academic honesty agreement, letters of recommendation, documentation of teaching status, minimum GPA of 2.75, an essay and a completed application form. Applicants to the RN-BSN Program are subject to the same requirements in addition to the submission of a copy of valid RN license and employment verification form. All application materials are to be submitted to USM Online Processing Center.
Available financial aid package depends on the university’s assessment of student need. Qualified students can apply for financial assistance through federal grants and loans. Students can also opt for employer tuition reimbursement, whether or not their company has an existing tuition reimbursement program. Employers can be convinced to invest in their employees in exchange for the expected benefit that can be gained from updated employee skills. USM has been named a 2011 Military Friendly School by G.I. Jobs.
The university is also consistently included in Princeton Review’s yearly ranking for the Best Midwestern College Category. It is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Several programs have additional specialized accreditations. From the time it opened its first online course in 1997, USM has been providing dedicated technical support to their students. Tuition rates vary depending on the chosen program.
