Choosing the right college is an incredibly important decision— this one choice can dictate the path of your personal and professional career. To help you weigh your options, check out these ten reasons why you should attend Mercy College of Health Sciences.
10. Downtown Des Moines Campus
Mercy College is located south of I-235 between 5th Avenue and 7th Street on the edge of downtown Des Moines, Iowa. Students love that we’re positioned away from the hustle and bustle of the main roads, but minutes away from places to grab coffee, study, or eat between classes and attend concerts or sporting events. Not to mention the short walk from campus to your clinicals at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
9. Individualized Instruction
Our faculty and staff nurture and guide students as they put classroom theory into practice using their own experiences as healthcare professionals. With a low 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio, our students blossom under our quality personal and individualized instruction.
8. High-Tech Educational Opportunities
Providing the latest tools is important to preparing students for high-stress medical situations. That’s why Mercy College offers a simulation lab filled with high-tech manikins that simulate symptoms, diseases, and conditions that healthcare professionals are likely to see on the job.
7. Stackable College Credits
Apply your credits to multiple degrees and certificates to make your education with Mercy College go farther. Earn a certificate quickly and you can begin earning money in your chosen profession as you continue taking courses for higher educational degrees.
6. Specialized Programs
Entering the job market with a Mercy College degree can give you a skillset advantage over other applicants. We’ve built a legacy around our specialized, career-specific healthcare curriculums by encouraging a healthcare focus from the first time you step on campus. With this approach, our graduates are incredibly well-prepared for their chosen specialties and future careers.
5. Highly Experienced Faculty
Our faculty have years of valuable “in-the-trenches” experience from within the healthcare industry. They’ve worked in hospitals, clinics, operating rooms, emergency rooms, the health department — you name it! They’ve participated in surgeries and births, used trial-and-error approaches, and met patients and students from all walks of life. With their guidance and mentorship, you will learn valuable lessons not covered in any text books.
4. Flexible Schedule Options
With the flexibility of courses offered on a trimester schedule in the fall, spring, and summer, Mercy College students can accelerate the completion of their degree and enter the workforce quickly. We offer accelerated programs and online classes, as well as night and weekend courses. All five of our bachelor degrees allow you to continue working during your education, and some certificate programs can even be completed in less than 12 months!
3. Catholic-Inspired Core Values
According to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, students at Catholic institutions are 17% more likely to graduate compared to the national average graduation rates. And we can understand why! As a Catholic institution of higher education, your success is our top priority. Mercy College is guided by five Catholic-inspired core values: knowledge, reverence, integrity, compassion, and excellence. These values underline all of our teachings and emphasize our dedication to compassionate healthcare service for a lifetime.
2. Affordable Tuition
Worried about tuition costs? Mercy College already has the lowest published tuition of any private school in the state of Iowa, so your starting tuition cost doesn’t carry the same sticker shock as other healthcare programs out there. In the 2016–2017 school-year, the average student financial aid package totaled more than $16,000. Furthermore, our 2015 student loan default rate was 2.6% compared to 11.6% for other Iowa institutions (6.6% for all private four-year colleges, 10.8% overall national rate). This is proof that our students graduate well-networked, with high-paying jobs that make it easier to pay back any costs incurred from a Mercy College degree.
1. Cutting-Edge Clinical Rotations
If you want to complete a healthcare degree, go to the school that offers the best opportunities, hands-on techniques, and latest technologies. With over 150 clinical partners and affiliations, including MercyOne Medical Center, our students receive critical training in patient-care settings. Enjoy the flexibility of finding a clinical rotation in your own community or explore other locations for a unique perspective.
So, ready to Chart Your Course yet? Schedule an appointment with an Admissions Counselor to get your healthcare career started.
About Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences is the only private Catholic college in central Iowa and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Located in downtown Des Moines, Mercy College prepares graduates for service and leadership in the healthcare community with a wide-range of bachelor, associate, and certificate programs. Mercy College’s liberal arts and sciences education develops compassionate caregivers and leaders. Visit www.mchs.edu or call (515) 643-3180 to learn more.
