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Our History

The name “Marymount” has long been associated with excellence in education. The Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, founders of Marymount University, provide Marymount with a heritage, spirit, and tradition that date back all the way to the founding of the RSHM Order in Béziers, France, in 1849 by Father Pierre Jean Antoine Gailhac and the first RSHM member, Mother St. Jean.

The learning institutions they began would evolve into a worldwide network of schools and colleges, including Marymount University. The roots of Marymount’s founding Congregation reflect a commitment to education and to serving those in need – a commitment that remains vital at Marymount today.

Marymount University, the first Catholic college to be established in Virginia, was founded in 1950. Through the years, it has grown from a two-year college for women into a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic university serving approximately 3,900 undergraduate and graduate students.

While much has changed since the early years as a result of greatly expanded programs and services, the University’s core values and mission have held steady. Today and always, Marymount has stood for:

• Intellectual curiosity: A Marymount education guides the intellectual, ethical and spiritual development of each individual, and fosters a student-centered learning community that provides opportunities for personal and professional growth. This is evident from our 14:1 student-to-faculty ratio that allows for quality interaction and personal attention, our continuous addition of market-driven academic programs, our emphasis on internships across all fields, our establishment of three interdisciplinary research centers on campus, our acceptance to the prestigious Oak Ridge Associated Universities Research Consortium and our reclassification as a Carnegie Doctoral/Professional University.

• Service to others: Service is at the heart of Marymount, and nowhere is that
  more demonstrated than our Saints Center for Service – an on-campus hub for collaboration between people, organizations and communities. We’ve partnered with more than 55 community-based organizations and our students, faculty and staff spend over 16,000 hours per year volunteering in the local area and further afield. Our Saints work to educate and act towards a more just and equitable world.

• Global perspective: With students from 49 states and 75 countries, Marymount welcomes people of all backgrounds. We’re the first and only Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and we’re the most diverse higher education institution in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Marymount also leads Virginia colleges and universities for international students.

About US

At marymount university, you learn on purpose through intimate classes and incredible personal attention.  And, you Learn with Purpose — taking advantage of the large classroom and performance lab we call Washington, D.C.

‘Learn with Purpose’ at Marymount means you will be prepared not just for a career, but for all the ‘didn’t see that coming’ twists and turns your career will take on the path that marks a fulfilling and contributive life.

Marymount offers big ideas, all the support you need, and all the opportunities you want. We’re a launching pad for careers and a close, ethical learning community just minutes from the center of everything.

We take pride in our core beliefs — intellectual curiosity, service to others, and having a global perspective. Your education and your life should have as much adventure as challenge, as much play as work, and as many new friends as new experiences. Learn with Purpose, Live with Purpose.