Make your next step a reality.

At Mount Saint Mary's University, we understand that the decision to complete your degree is one that is informed by cost and affordability. That is why our Weekend/Evening & Online College programs are offered at a reduced tuition rate. In lieu of traditional merit-based scholarships, we provide convenience and transparency in our pricing - so you can plan your goals around your budget.

Our WEOC degree programs are offered at a 65% discount compared to our traditional undergraduate programs, giving busy, working adults like you the affordability and transparency you need to earn your degree.

WEOC tuition and fees

Weekend/Evening Program (2023-2024)
Tuition (per unit) $663
University Services Fee (per semester) $202

Online Degree Program (WEOC) Tuition (2023-2024)
Tuition (per unit) New incoming (subject to company discounts) $663
University Services Fee (per session) $95

Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society members are eligible for the Mount's PTK Award. 

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) recognizes the academic achievement of college students and provides opportunities for its members to grow as scholars and leaders. More than 3.5 million students have been inducted since 1918, with approximately 250,000 active members in the nation’s community colleges, making Phi Theta Kappa a true catalyst among members and colleges.

The PTK Award is automatically offered to member students and ranges from $2,000 - $4,000 per year.

Mount Saint Mary’s has partnered with various organizations to offer their employees tuition discounts. Below is a list of those organizations; please contact the Office of Admission for qualifying criteria and information.

Employees of the following organizations who enroll at Mount Saint Mary's University may be eligible for a 15% tuition discount.

  • AltaMed
  • American Honda Finance
  • Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
  • Southern California Gas Company

Employees of the following organizations who enroll at Mount Saint Mary's University may be eligible for a 35% tuition discount.

  • Archdiocese of Los Angeles (Full-time employees)
  • Cedars Sinai Hospital (Full- and part-time employees*)
  • Children's Hospital of Los Angeles (Full-time employees)
  • Keck Medical Center of USC (Full-time employees*)
  • USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center (Full-time employees*)
  • USC Verdugo Hills Hospital (Full-time employees*)

*Spouses and dependent children who enroll in a Weekend/Evening & Online program may also be eligible for this discount.

Looking for additional financial support?

We encourage you to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for consideration for federal and state loans, grants and scholarships.

Government grants and outside scholarships can assist with your tuition as a returning adult student. The United States Department of Education offers numerous grants to students who enroll in four-year programs.

We've outlined some of these grants and outside scholarships that you can explore below:

Federal Pell Grants are generally given to undergraduate students who have not earned their bachelor’s or graduate degrees. It is a need-based grant that is awarded to students who display exceptional financial needs. A student who has enrolled in a post baccalaureate teacher certification program might also be eligible for this grant.

You must first successfully fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. To stay eligible for federal grants, you have to complete the FAFSA form every year until you complete your graduation or no longer require financial aid.

If you’re an adult student pursuing a degree in teaching or educational administration, you can apply for the TEACH grant through FAFSA.

For college attendees to be eligible for the TEACH grant, they must teach in a low-income school for at least 4 years within eight years after completing their degree. If you plan to go back to school but do not fulfill the service requirements, the agency will convert your financial aid into a student loan that you have to return with interest.

Adult students who apply for this grant are eligible to receive up to $3,772 annually. An adult who wishes to receive this grant must enroll in a TEACH-Grant-Eligible Program at a school that participates in the TEACH grant program.

You must also meet the academic requirement of scoring more than 75 percent on a college admission test or maintain a GPA of 3.25 or above.

This grant is specifically for students whose parents passed away during their military services in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Adult students going back to school can apply for this program through FAFSA even if their EFC exceeds the Federal Pell income criteria. However, you must be under 24 years of age or have been enrolled in a college program during your parent or guardian’s passing.

This loan type involves private lenders and is designed to supplement your overall educational financing strategy. Your alternative loan applications should be provided to the Office of Student Financing, so that Mount Saint Mary’s University can adjust your overall financial awards, if any, based on loan amounts. Terms vary from private lenders, so you and your parents should compare them carefully, including reviewing any fees added to the loan amounts. Students who borrow may be required to have a co-signer. Repayment typically begins six months after graduation, withdrawal, or any time you drop below half-time.

MSMU is an impartial party and cannot recommend any particular lender. We suggest you use a consumer advocate tool such as www.nerdwallet.com or www.bankrate.com to compare loans.

Outside scholarships for women

We welcome students of all genders in our WEOC programs. There are, however, excellent grants and scholarships for women who wish to return to school. Apart from the federal government, several private organizations can help adults make a college career.

If you’re a woman attending a full-time program, these are the programs you can benefit from:

The Go Girl! Grant is offered by The Girlfriend Factor, an organization that provides educational grants and emotional support for women who are bettering their lives through higher education. Since 2006, the organization has provided over 180 women in California’s Coachella Valley with $700,000 in grants.

To be eligible, applicants must be at least 25, demonstrate financial need and be passionate about an educational path that will lead to a career. If you want to apply, you’ll need to write a one-page autobiography, provide information about your education and career goals, submit three references and prepare for an interview.

Check the website to be sure, but previously applications were reviewed twice a year: in January and July. To be eligible for consideration, you had to submit your application by the 15th of the previous month (Dec. 15 and June 15).

Jeannette Rankin was the first woman elected to the U.S. Congress. Upon her death, she left a portion of her estate to create a scholarship for women returning to school. Since its launch in 1978, the Jeannette Rankin Foundation has awarded about $3 million in scholarships to more than 1,000 women.

The Jeannette Rankin Women’s Scholarship Fund is for low-income women over the age of 35 who want to get their associate’s or bachelor’s degrees. To be eligible for a scholarship, you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Award recipients are selected based on their goals and how they plan to give back to the community.

Review detailed eligibility information, including income restrictions, via the scholarship’s website. In previous years, all applications were due by Feb. 18.

Patsy Takemoto Mink served in Congress and was the first woman of color to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. In her honor, the Patsy Takemoto Mink Foundation was launched in 2003. Since then, it has assisted low-income women, particularly mothers. This is a unique scholarship for moms looking to reduce their educational costs.

The organization offers five awards of up to $5,000 each for low-income mothers pursuing an education. Awardees are chosen based on financial need, personal history and future goals. Funds could be used on educational costs or to afford child care expenses.

To be eligible, applicants must be mothers and at least 17 years old. You must also be entering a vocational training course or pursuing your associate’s or bachelor’s degree.

What’s more, an applicant’s income cannot exceed $20,000 for a family of two or $28,000 for a family of four. The organization opens up the scholarship to applicants in the spring of each year.

The Philanthropic Education Organization (P.E.O) offers up to $3,000 in need-based grants to women whose education was interrupted but who now want to pursue a degree to better support themselves and their families.

To be eligible for the P.E.O Program for Continuing Education, a woman must be enrolled in school and be within 18 months of completing an educational program.

If you meet these requirements and would like to apply, you must have the sponsorship of a local P.E.O club. However, membership is not required. Learn more here.

The Soroptimist Live Your Dreams Award provides support and financial assistance to women who are the primary earners in their families. Each year, the organization gives out more than $2.6 million in grants to nearly 1,700 women.

If you would like to apply, you must be the main source of financial support for your family. And, you must be enrolled in or accepted to a vocational training program or a four-year college or university. Applicants must also be able to demonstrate financial need.

In previous years, the Soroptimist accepted applications between August and mid-November. To apply, complete the online application along with two reference forms. Then, submit your application during the acceptance period.

The Women’s Independence Scholarship Program (WISP) provides scholarships to women who are survivors of intimate partner abuse. The program is designed to help survivors regain independence and self-sufficiency through education and employment.

Full- or part-time students with financial need are eligible. The primary goal of WISP is to help women who have been separated from their abusive partners for at least one year.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis, and you can apply via the WISP website. Awards range from $1,000 to $6,000.

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers annual awards, most recently offering $5 million to 260-plus students in 2021 and 2022.

The fellowships and grants awarded by AAUW have varying eligibility requirements depending on the opportunity. In 2021, there were seven possible awards, including “Career Development Grants” meant for women pursuing a certificate or degree to further their career or switch career paths. Most opportunities have November and December annual deadlines.

International students should also check eligibility for college grants and scholarships for women via a similar organization, Margaret McNamara Education Grants.