University of Mary

The University of Mary (often known simply as Mary) is a four-year Catholic university in North Dakota.

The university has roots dating back to the late 1950s, when it was founded by the Benedictine Sisters of Annunciation Monastery, as a women's college. Since, it has undergone rapid expansion. It became fully co-educational in the 1960s and achieved full university status in 1986.

Based in Bismarck, it is the largest degree granting institution in the region. The rural campus sits on a hill overlooking the “Capital City” and includes more than 14 different buildings.

The University of Mary also has satellite campuses in Rome and Peru, while also having academic programmes at various locations in North Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming, Kansas, Missouri, and Arizona.

Music is a prominent part of life on campus and there are various different clubs for students to get involved in. These include: Pep Band, String Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Woodwind Studies, Vocal Jazz and Steel Band. 

In addition, the university holds an annual jazz festival, which draws thousands of people and brings world-renowned artists to campus. In addition, the university regularly produce concerts, Broadway musicals, and opera. This offers all Mary students the chance to perform, act, play or work behind the scenes in areas of production.

Athletic teams at the university are known as the Marauders, and compete as members of the NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. 

There are 16 varsity sports in total, which include: football, basketball, soccer, track and field, cross country, volleyball, baseball, softball, wrestling, and tennis.

Notable alumni include Mary Wakefield, a nurse and educator who has since entered politics, Kevin Cramer, an American politician who has been the United States Representative for North Dakota since 2013, and Tim Miles, an American college basketball coach and the current head men's basketball coach at University of Nebraska.