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Mary Baldwin University

MBU

Staunton, Virginia 24401

Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivate

Known for business — close-knit campus

Mary Baldwin University is a private institution in Staunton with particular strength in business and health sciences.

A small campus of 1.2K undergraduates with a 14:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

56% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $44,427 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $17,833.

Established
1842
Motto
Non pro tempore sed aeternitate
Mascot
Baldwin the Fighting Squirrel and Gladys the Squirrel
Type
Private university
Division
Division III

Campus Visits

58 upcoming visits · Next: Wed, Jul 1 · Campus Tour

Plan Your Visit

Acceptance
SAT Avg
1,188
Undergrads
14:1
Student : Faculty
56%
Grad Rate (4yr)
$44,427
Earnings 10yr
$17,833
Avg Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Mary Baldwin University Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions Intel

Yield Rate

35.0%

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$33,157
Room & Board$10,630
Books & Supplies$900
Total Cost of Attendance$44,435
Average Net Price$17,833
Median Debt at Graduation$26,586
Monthly Payment (10yr)$282

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$15,996
$30–48K$14,762
$48–75K$16,899
$75–110K$21,736
$110K+$23,106

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

33.6%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,250

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

8

Peer Average

13

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

2

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (51)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

61%

Negative
  • 61% first-year retention rate
  • Active student organizations
  • Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
1,188
Gender Split
76% / 24%
Women / Men
First Generation
40%
Pell Grant Recipients
48%

Race & Ethnicity

White 50%
Black 26%
Hispanic 8%
Asian 2%
Two+ 6%
Int'l 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate55.7%
Freshman Retention61.2%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$39,075
10 Years$44,427

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
3
vs 2024

More About This School

Varsity Sports — Fighting Squirrels

Colleges conference

History & Fun Facts

  • History Located in Staunton, Virginia within Augusta County, the university was founded as the "Augusta Female Seminary" in 1842 by Rufus William Bailey.
  • In 1863, Baldwin was named principal and headed the school through the Civil War, although most schools in the area had closed due to the war and economic hardship.
  • In 1895, the school was renamed "Mary Baldwin Seminary" in honor of Baldwin.
  • In 1923, the name changed to "Mary Baldwin College" when the school became a four-year institution.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

IAD Washington Dulles103 mi
RIC Richmond105 mi
BWI Baltimore-Washington148 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA512 mi · ~14h 47m drive
New York, NY323 mi · ~9h 20m drive
Hartford, CT421 mi · ~12h 10m drive
Providence, RI478 mi · ~13h 49m drive
Albany, NY418 mi · ~12h 5m drive
Syracuse, NY371 mi · ~10h 43m drive
Rochester, NY354 mi · ~10h 14m drive
Buffalo, NY327 mi · ~9h 27m drive
Philadelphia, PA244 mi · ~7h 3m drive
Pittsburgh, PA166 mi · ~4h 48m drive
Harrisburg, PA187 mi · ~5h 24m drive
Newark, NJ316 mi · ~9h 8m drive
Washington, DC122 mi · ~3h 31m drive
Baltimore, MD154 mi · ~4h 27m drive
Atlanta, GA425 mi · ~12h 17m drive
Charlotte, NC225 mi · ~6h 30m drive
Raleigh, NC166 mi · ~4h 48m drive
Miami, FL859 mi · ~24h 49m drive
Orlando, FL678 mi · ~19h 35m drive
Tampa, FL732 mi · ~21h 9m drive
Nashville, TN446 mi · ~12h 53m drive
New Orleans, LA846 mi · ~24h 26m drive
Richmond, VA99 mi · ~2h 52m drive
Chicago, IL521 mi · ~15h 3m drive
Detroit, MI357 mi · ~10h 19m drive
Minneapolis, MN870 mi · ~25h 8m drive
St. Louis, MO603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Kansas City, MO839 mi · ~24h 14m drive
Indianapolis, IN397 mi · ~11h 28m drive
Columbus, OH245 mi · ~7h 5m drive
Cleveland, OH270 mi · ~7h 48m drive
Milwaukee, WI573 mi · ~16h 33m drive
Dallas, TX1062 mi · ~30h 41m drive
Houston, TX1097 mi · ~31h 41m drive
Austin, TX1195 mi · ~34h 31m drive
San Antonio, TX1264 mi · ~36h 31m drive
Los Angeles, CA2189 mi · ~63h 14m drive
San Francisco, CA2340 mi · ~67h 36m drive
San Diego, CA2162 mi · ~62h 27m drive
Seattle, WA2253 mi · ~65h 5m drive
Portland, OR2273 mi · ~65h 40m drive
Denver, CO1392 mi · ~40h 13m drive
Phoenix, AZ1868 mi · ~53h 58m drive
Salt Lake City, UT1750 mi · ~50h 33m drive
Honolulu, HI4731 mi · ~136h 40m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Washington Dulles (IAD)103 miles
Rental car
155 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
206 min$124-206
Richmond (RIC)105 miles
Rental car
158 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
210 min$126-210

Deadline Calendar

Typical Application Requirements

Decision Notifications

Mary Baldwin University — v2 Preview — TourStack