Undergraduate Residential and Commuter

Academic Year 2025–26

	Residential	Commuter
Tuition	$34,907	$34,907
Technology and Credentialing Fee	$175	$175
Student Organization Fee	$275	$275
Food and Housing Expenses	$11,797	$832* *Required Block 25 meal plan (opt out available)
Total Estimated Direct Cost (Billed Expense)	$47,154	$36,189

That “sticker price” can be intimidating. But very few MBU students pay full tuition. The average annual cost paid by MBU students is $21,315. And MBU works with students to ensure that relevant coursework, as well as work and life experiences, count toward your degree, further minimizing tuition costs. That’s why US News & World Report ranked MBU as a best value school in the south, and one of the top schools in the U.S. for boosting social mobility. 

2025–26 May Term

May Term at Mary Baldwin is a unique opportunity to dive into a single course over three focused weeks in May, featuring in-person, study abroad, and online options. Beginning in 2026, May Term courses are part of MBU’s summer term, and will begin after Commencement.

May Term courses are billed separately on a per-credit basis at $460/credit hour. This tuition cost for May Term aligns with the standard billing for all summer courses at MBU.

Indirect Costs

Students should also anticipate additional indirect costs such as books, supplies, travel, recreation, and personal items. These expenses are not billed by MBU but are considered when determining financial aid awards. 

Estimates for these expenses for fall and spring are included below but vary from student to student:

Books and Supplies:	$900
Transportation:	$400
Personal Expenses:	$1,730
Loan Fees (if federal loans are borrowed):	$270
Living off Campus (if not living on campus)	$8,000
Total Estimated Indirect Costs:	$11,300