[1] She attended Sandusky High School where she won an essay contest by the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

She gained admittance to Ohio State University in 1899 and earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1903, with more honors than anyone else up to that time.

[1] Molloy won a fellowship to attend graduate school at Ohio State and completed her master's in English philology in 1905.

[3] Leo Tracy of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota, and directoress of Winona Seminary, wished her teaching staff to obtain bachelor's degrees.

Bishop Patrick R. Heffron of Winona promoted her cause in Rome and Pope Benedict XV awarded Molloy the Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice medal for her service in women's higher education.