•AVERAGE: 69
Mary Baldwin University (previously known as Mary Baldwin College) is a small, coeducational, and student-centered university offering degree programs that range from undergraduate to doctoral. MBU serves a vibrant student population on the historic main campus in Staunton, VA, nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. A cutting-edge college of health sciences in nearby Fishersville, programs for online study, and regional centers throughout Virginia are also part of the university.
Academic Programs
MBU connects students with opportunity from the moment they arrive on campus, helping them fulfill their potential and prepare to be tomorrow’s leaders. With more than 40 undergraduate degree programs, NCAA DIII athletics, small class sizes, career preparation, and opportunities for local and global engagement, MBU jumpstarts and supports student success. Two signature programs within MBU’s Mary Baldwin College for Women offer unique paths for on-campus participants: the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership, the nation’s only all-women cadet corps, and the Program for the Exceptionally Gifted, for brilliant girls as young as 13 to earn their college degree early.More than 50 majors and minors are available at Mary Baldwin University, culminating in a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Social Work, or RN-BSN; pre-professional programs are also offered in law, medicine, ministry, and ROTC (Air Force, Navy, Army). A number of graduate programs are also offered through Mary Baldwin University, including Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Education, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, and a new Master of Science in Physician Assistant which was made available starting in 2016. Mary Baldwin University also has several unique partnerships which provide even more opportunities for students, including with the American Shakespeare Center, the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, and the Virginia Program at Oxford. The university is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Student Life
Mary Baldwin University has a total enrollment figure of more than 1,700 students. Mary Baldwin University’s beautiful and historic main campus sits on 54 acres overlooking the vibrant downtown area of Staunton. The city of is just a short distance away from the Mary Baldwin University campus and the area has been described as brimming with “electric personality, sophisticated, energized, laid back, historic, beautiful, and welcoming.” Staunton offers a variety of cultural and recreational opportunities with its live music, art galleries, coffee houses, restaurants, and shopping.Mary Baldwin University boasts more than 20 unique annual traditions, including the ever popular Apple Day, which was established more than six decades ago. The event includes cancelled classes, a carnival, apple gleaning, paint the town, and an abundance of apple dishes served at the University’s Dining Hall. One of Apple Day’s main purposes is to serve as a platform for promoting service within the community through local organizations as well as involvement in campus clubs. Other favorite traditions at Mary Baldwin University include the Capstone Festival, Charter Day, Christmas Cheer, and more.