University of Saint Mary

What University of Saint Mary does

University of Saint Mary (USM) is a private Catholic university founded in 1923 and sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, headquartered at 4100 S 4th St in Leavenworth, Kansas, with a secondary graduate/professional campus at 11221 Roe Ave in Leawood (USM-Johnson County). It serves incoming freshmen, transfer students, graduate and doctoral candidates, online learners, military-affiliated students via ROTC, and healthcare-track students through undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs.

Its core academic product is a diversified higher-education portfolio spanning traditional four-year undergraduate majors, graduate and doctoral professional degrees (notably DPT at $995/credit hour, OTD at $840/credit hour, and MSAT at $590/credit hour for the 2026 cohort), accredited online bachelor's/master's/doctoral programs, and specialized healthcare pathways in nursing (Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN), pre-med, nurse practitioner, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Supporting programs include the STEM Scholars Program, Honors Program, ROTC, NAIA athletics (GoSpires), the Keleher Learning Commons, and the Starr Center for Peace & Justice. Underlying technology is conventional higher-ed infrastructure: an internal eSpire student portal for registration, financial aid, and academic records, a Moodle-based LMS for course delivery, and standard third-party integrations including National Student Clearinghouse, Maxient Conduct Manager, Google Analytics, and (historically) DxTerity Diagnostics for COVID-19 saliva testing.

USM's business model is tuition-driven subscription billing per semester or credit hour, supplemented by housing and dining fees ($2,490-$5,840/semester housing; $275-$2,855/semester meal plans), program-specific fees (e.g., $1,060/semester BSN fee), and general/activity/athletic fees. Distribution is via direct admissions through the Leavenworth main campus, the Leawood graduate campus, online self-serve enrollment, ROTC and military-affiliated recruitment, and healthcare career-pathway partnerships (including Munson Army Health Center / Defense Health Agency). The model is supported by aggressive financial aid positioning, with 95%+ of main campus undergraduates receiving aid, average freshman awards exceeding $24,000, and scholarships up to $75,000 framing USM as a value-priced private alternative in the Kansas City market.

Name

University of Saint Mary

Legal name

University of Saint Mary

Website

https://stmary.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Short description

University of Saint Mary is a private Catholic university founded in 1923 in Leavenworth, Kansas, sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. It offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and online programs across two campuses, with notable specialization in healthcare education (nursing, DPT, OTD).

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Religiously Affiliated Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.) (EDAHALAF), Denominational Theological Colleges (e.g., Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Evangelical) (EDAHAKAM)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate doctoral programs
• Healthcare education
• Online degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Leavenworth

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition: Full-time undergraduate tuition at $18,490 per semester for 12-18 credit hours. Part-time tuition ranges from $845-$1,190 per credit hour depending on course load. Primary revenue driver for the university.
2. Graduate and Doctoral Programs Tuition: Graduate programs including DPT ($995/credit hour), OTD ($840/credit hour), MSAT ($590/credit hour), and other graduate programs generate significant revenue from professional students.
3. Housing and Dining: On-campus housing in Maria Hall, Berkel Hall, Mead Hall, and Steele Hall with rates from $2,490-$5,840 per semester. Meal plans from $275-$2,855 per semester.
4. Online Programs: Accredited online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs serving remote students with tuition rates distinct from on-campus programs.
5. Fees and Athletic Programs: General fees ($535/semester), student activity fees ($95/semester), athletic fees ($570/year), and program-specific fees including nursing program fees ($1,060/semester).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

University of Saint Mary is a private Catholic university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs across two Kansas campuses (Leavenworth main campus and Leawood/Johnson County) and through accredited online programs. Core academic offerings emphasize healthcare education (nursing, DPT, OTD, nurse practitioner, pre-med) alongside traditional liberal arts, business, and STEM disciplines, supported by residential housing, meal plans, ROTC, and NAIA athletics.

Product overview

University of Saint Mary offers a comprehensive educational portfolio comprising undergraduate degree programs, graduate and doctoral programs, and online learning options. The institution specializes in healthcare education including nursing (BSN), physical therapy (DPT), and occupational therapy (OTD). Core educational products are supported by internal technology platforms including eSpire (student portal) and Moodle (learning management). The university operates two campuses: Main Campus in Leavenworth, Kansas and USM-Johnson County in Leawood, Kansas. Financial aid programs include scholarships up to $75,000 with 95% of main campus undergraduates receiving financial aid.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Undergraduate Programs Traditional four-year bachelor's degree programs across multiple disciplines including nursing, biology, chemistry, business, and general studies, with full-time tuition at $18,490 per semester for 12-18 credit hours. Designed for incoming freshmen and current undergraduates pursuing a residential college experience.
• Graduate and Doctoral Programs Advanced degree programs including Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT, $995/credit hour for June 2026 cohort), Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD, $840/credit hour), Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT, $590/credit hour), and additional graduate degrees serving working professionals and recent undergraduates.
• Online Programs Accredited online bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs offering flexible completion options for working professionals and distance learners, with tuition rates distinct from on-campus programs.
• Healthcare Programs (Nursing, DPT, OTD, NP, Pre-med) Specialized healthcare education programs including Traditional BSN, Accelerated BSN, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Nurse Practitioner (FNP), and pre-med pathways, with associated clinical fees such as the $1,060/semester Traditional BSN program fee.
• Residence Halls and Dining On-campus housing in Maria Hall, Berkel Hall, Mead Hall, and Steele Hall with rates from $2,490-$5,840 per semester, and meal plans ranging from $275-$2,855 per semester (including the 19-meal plan required for freshmen).
• USM-Johnson County Campus (Leawood, KS) Secondary campus location at 11221 Roe Ave, Leawood, Kansas, serving the Overland Park/Johnson County area with graduate and professional programs including DPT, OTD, and other graduate offerings.
• ARMY ROTC Program Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program offering students the opportunity to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Forces while pursuing their degree, with associated veteran and military benefits support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average financial aid award for incoming freshmen in 2025 was more than $24,000
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Munson Army Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunson Army Health Center participated in the Science and Mathematics Undergraduate Research Forum at University of Saint Mary, engaging with students about career opportunities in military and federal healthcare within the Defense Health Agency and Army Medicine. The partnership provides a pathway for students to explore healthcare careers in the DHA network of over 700 military hospitals and clinics worldwide.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Regis University: Jesuit university in Denver with a comparable mix of undergraduate, graduate, and online programs including DPT and other healthcare offerings. Comparable in faith-based identity, professional program emphasis, and online-asynchronous growth strategy.
• Benedictine College: Catholic liberal arts college in Atchison, Kansas (about 40 miles from Leavenworth) sponsored by Benedictine monks. Highly comparable to USM on size, faith-based mission, regional footprint, residential undergraduate model, and small-campus culture.
• College of Saint Mary: Catholic women's college in Omaha, Nebraska sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy. Comparable in faith-based identity, small size, healthcare program emphasis (nursing, OT, PT), and Midwest regional draw. Similar tuition pricing structure.
• Avila University: Catholic, Sisters of St. Joseph-sponsored university in Kansas City, Missouri. Closely comparable in mission, scale, regional draw, and liberal arts plus professional programs (nursing, business, education). Direct competitor for Kansas City metro students.
• Mount St. Mary's University: Catholic liberal arts university in Emmitsburg, Maryland, with similar scale, faith-based sponsorship, residential undergraduate model, and a comparable mix of pre-professional and graduate healthcare programs. Closely analogous business model.
• Rockhurst University: Jesuit university in Kansas City, Missouri, directly competing with USM in the same metro for traditional and graduate students. Comparable in size, faith-based identity, professional program mix (including healthcare-adjacent graduate offerings), and urban-adjacent positioning.
• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota: Catholic, Lasallian university in Winona, Minnesota with a comparable size, faith-based identity, mix of undergraduate and graduate programs, and significant online/accelerated offerings for working professionals. Analogous operating model.
• Park University: Private nonprofit university headquartered in Parkville, Missouri (Kansas City metro) with strong online and adult-learner programs. Comparable in scale, Kansas City regional draw, and emphasis on accessible/affordable education for nontraditional students.

Broad incumbents

• Saint Louis University: Larger Jesuit research university in St. Louis with major healthcare programs (medical school, nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy). Comparable Catholic identity and healthcare specialization, but operates at significantly greater scale and research intensity.
• Creighton University: Larger Jesuit research university in Omaha, Nebraska with nationally ranked healthcare programs (pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, medical school). Overlaps USM in healthcare education mission and Omaha/Kansas City regional draw, but at substantially larger scale and brand recognition.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/USMSpireWire
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/stmaryedu
• Facebookfacebook.com/77910657437
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/university-of-saint-mary
• Instagraminstagram.com/usmspires
• TikToktiktok.com/@usmspires

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University of Saint Mary