Mount Saint Mary’s University

Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles (MSMU) is a private nonprofit Catholic university with its main undergraduate campus in the hills of West Los Angeles and additional academic sites in downtown LA and Hollywood. Its traditional undergraduate college is designed for women; nursing programs, graduate degrees, and the Weekend/Evening & Online College are coeducational. That distinction matters to applicants comparing programs or planning a campus visit. The Mount combines a broad liberal arts and sciences curriculum with established nursing pathways and hands-on film and media study in Hollywood.

Programs and choosing the right campus

MSMU lists more than 40 undergraduate majors and minors, including nursing, pre-nursing, biology and biochemistry, business administration, psychology, social work, education, film and media, journalism and new media, and sociology. Graduate options include nursing, physical therapy, clinical and counseling psychology, education, business, creative writing, and film. Students pursuing film can study production, photography, journalism, documentary work, and social-justice media, with coursework and facilities at the Hollywood studio. The university’s program finder lets applicants filter by degree level and study mode; check each program’s admissions rules, location, and accreditation before applying.

Nursing has several distinct entry routes. First-year students typically begin in pre-nursing or direct-entry nursing; transfer students may apply to the traditional BSN after completing prerequisites; students who already hold a bachelor’s degree can consider the accelerated BSN; and registered nurses can explore RN-to-BSN or graduate pathways. Nursing is open to all genders, and the university says its baccalaureate and graduate nursing programs are accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The traditional undergraduate college’s women-focused admission policy does not apply to nursing or to its coeducational adult and graduate programs. Nursing admission is selective, so confirm prerequisites and the application cycle with the program before planning around it.

The campus arrangement affects daily life: Chalon is home to the traditional undergraduate program; Doheny houses graduate, associate, credential, and Weekend/Evening & Online programs; and the Hollywood studio serves film and media coursework. Applicants should verify where their specific classes meet and how they will travel between locations. MSMU operates a shuttle between Chalon and Doheny, but do not assume it serves every course or schedule.

Accreditation and academic quality

WSCUC lists MSMU as accredited and identifies Chalon as the active main campus, with Doheny and Hollywood Studio as additional locations. The Commission reaffirmed accreditation for eight years after the 2023 review. It also requires an interim report by November 1, 2028 addressing program-portfolio financial analysis, staffing and retention, student outcomes, post-graduate preparation, board use of disaggregated data, and academic decision-making. These are areas for development within an accredited institution, not a loss of accreditation. Nursing has its program-specific CCNE accreditation; other programs may have their own professional requirements. Review the university’s WSCUC record and ask the department about licensure or clinical placement outcomes relevant to your intended career.

2026–27 costs and financial support

For 2026–27, the university publishes undergraduate tuition and fees of $52,598, estimated food and housing of $17,494, and a total estimated cost of attendance of $70,092. This is a planning figure; confirm additional expenses and the billed amount for your housing and enrollment. MSMU says all admitted undergraduate students receive a merit scholarship. For first-year applicants, its published annual merit awards range from $18,000 to $32,000 according to high-school GPA: the President’s Award is $29,000–$32,000 for a 4.00+ GPA, while other tiers include Carondelet, Provost, Regents, and Opportunity awards. The award is renewable subject to the college’s rules.

Additional opportunities include the Le Puy Founders’ full-tuition scholarship, the Marymount Education Foundation full-tuition-and-housing scholarship, and the Inclusive Excellence Scholars Program, which may include stipends. Need-based aid requires the FAFSA or California Dream Act Application and any requested documents; the priority filing period for the 2027 entry cycle is October 1, 2026–March 2, 2027. MSMU reports that 98% of first-year students receive need-based aid and an average undergraduate aid package of $51,091. Those figures combine different forms of aid and do not guarantee that a particular student’s net price will match the average. Ask which amounts are grants and scholarships versus loans or work-study, and use the official admissions and aid page to review current eligibility and calculate your own cost.

Addresses, contacts, and visits

• Chalon Campus — main campus: 12001 Chalon Road, Los Angeles, CA 90049-1599. Main line: (310) 954-4000. Undergraduate Admission: (310) 954-4250; email admissions@msmu.edu.
• Doheny Campus: 10 Chester Place, Los Angeles, CA 90007-2598. Main line: (213) 477-2500. This site houses graduate, associate, credential, and adult evening/weekend programs.
• Hollywood Studio Campus: 6922 Hollywood Boulevard, 5th Floor, Hollywood, CA 90028. Film, Media and Communication: (310) 954-4305. Call the department before visiting this teaching studio.

MSMU does not publish general walk-in hours for the campuses. Admission visits begin at the Chalon Welcome Center and should be scheduled in advance; the university advises visitors to follow its driving directions rather than relying on GPS for the final approach to Chalon. Ask Admissions about parking, accessibility, and any shuttle needs before traveling.

Student perspectives

Students and recent reviewers often praise the close-knit atmosphere, accessible professors, campus beauty, supportive academic resources, and practical nursing and film opportunities. Some describe the Chalon campus as peaceful but isolated from everyday city activity, while others raise concerns about weekend social options, tuition, financial-aid communication, or the balance of attention among majors. These comments point to useful questions for a visit: compare the aid offer with the full cost, ask how often your program meets at each campus, learn what transport is available, and talk with current students in your intended major. Read student and alumni comments alongside official program and cost information.