The university was founded in 1913 by the School Sisters of Notre Dame[1] and was Wisconsin's first four-year, degree-granting Catholic college for women.

Mount Mary is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

[4] Mount Mary also offers a dual degree program in partnership with the Medical College of Wisconsin.

The core courses "provide breadth within the liberal arts by allowing students to construct an understanding of the perspectives that each of the disciplines offers in each person's lifelong search for meaning.

Mount Mary launched the first four-year fashion design and merchandising degree program in the nation in 1965.

[33] Mount Mary University is located on an 80-acre (32 ha) campus on the west side of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[38] The building was opened in 2004 and is named to honor Blessed Theresa Gerhardinger of Jesus, foundress of the School Sisters of Notre Dame order.

The 33,000-square-foot (3,100 m2) building houses the college's electronic lecture hall, Cyber Cafe, and science and occupational therapy classrooms and labs.

In congruence with the university's mission, Mount Mary also encourages students to participate in social justice and service learning activities on and off campus, as well as study abroad experiences.

[41] The university is host to sports teams, musical performances, lectures, and other events throughout the year, including exhibits of regional artists' works in the Marian Art Gallery.

CREO is Mount Mary University's annual event that showcases arts and design student work and celebrates creativity.

The collection consists of 9,000 pieces dating 1750 to the present, and features significant 20th-century women's couture and ready-to-wear garments.

The Historic Costume Collection includes pieces from actress Lynn Fontanne, Eunice Johnson, and Chanel.

[51] The Blue Angels previously competed in the short-lived now defunct American Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) from 2018–19 to 2019–20; as well as an NCAA D-III Independent until after the 2017–18 school year.

[52] Mount Mary competes in six intercollegiate varsity sports: basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball and volleyball.