If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that life is constantly changing. Priorities shift, financial situations and passions evolve, and jobs come and go. One thing that has remained is the value of a college education; however, how and where students are completing their education is not the same.
You may attend a community college and realize that your major isn’t what you want to do for the rest of your life. Or maybe you’re at a four-year college, but the school isn’t a good fit. Maybe you just feel stuck. You want to make a difference, but you don’t even know where to start. In the face of so much uncertainty, making any change – let alone one that affects your financial, social, and professional wellbeing so directly – can be intimidating.
That’s why we’ve decided to take the mystery out of transferring to Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Myth #1: My credits won’t transfer, and I’ll have to start over to earn my degree. What’s the point?
At Mercy College, we have generous transfer credit acceptance policies! Many of our programs have what we call “Core requirements” and prerequisites you’ll have to take before enrolling in your professional classes. Core requirements – which include general education credits can be easily transferred from other accredited institutions or taken at Mercy College. We don’t set a time limit on most of our transfer courses.
We know transferring credits can get confusing. It can be frustrating to track down your transcripts. Our articulation agreements with fellow accredited institutions will show you exactly how your credits will transfer into your Mercy College program. We’ve even developed a list of our common transfer institutions, complete with contact information and links to request your transcripts! Transferring schools to pursue your passion shouldn’t be complicated, and we’ve worked hard to make the process as easy and transparent as possible.
Myth #2: I’ll be out of place and won’t fit in. Besides, I’m too far behind to catch up!
When we say we embrace the many different paths our students take to get to us, we mean it! Many of our degrees are designed with YOU in mind. And why wouldn’t they be? Over half of our student body is made up of students who have transferred to us – from community colleges and four-year institutions alike – to complete their healthcare education. And it’s not just Iowans! Students move here from across the country to pursue a Mercy College education. We offer completion tracks in several different areas, as well as degrees designed to complement other institutions’ curriculum so you can streamline your education and graduate as quickly as possible with the credentials necessary to be successful in the profession of your choice.
For example, our Medical Laboratory Science certificate is considered a “post-bachelor’s degree” program and regularly works with affiliated institutions to assist in your transfer to complete your degree and become a well-rounded health professional. We’ve also partnered with Drake University and Simpson College to offer convenient pathways for Drake and Simpson students to complete their respective degrees and transfer to Mercy College’s Accelerated BSN program.
Beyond our complementary degrees and completion programs, our online extension, Mercy College PLUS, offers four flexible, affordable, in-demand healthcare programs online. Each MercyPLUS program is designed to be completed within one year, with no hidden fees or costs. The best part? MercyPLUS offers four convenient start dates, ensuring you can transfer to Mercy College at a time that’s right for you.
Myth #3: It’s too expensive to transfer schools. What if it doesn’t work out and I can’t make a career out of it?
This myth is one of the biggest misconceptions facing transfer students. Ensuring you are taking college credit that will apply to a meaningful career after graduation is all about aligning your passions with career opportunities. At some institutions, you will only be prepared for entry-level employment. At Mercy College, we believe in developing life-long learners and giving students opportunities to enter their field and advance with the necessary training and credentials to be successful.
When you graduate from Mercy College, you’ll have an in-demand healthcare degree that allows you to enter the workforce with the tools and training necessary to make a difference and earn a higher working wage. In 2021, the median annual wage for individuals in healthcare-related fields was $75,040. That’s roughly $30,000 more than the median annual wage for any other occupation!
If that’s not enough to convince you, consider the potential growth of healthcare professions. Even before the pandemic, the world was in critical need of qualified, licensed healthcare professionals. That need has only grown in the past few years, and now healthcare facilities across the globe are desperate to fill roles to care for their patients. As a result, many offer competitive signing bonuses and benefits. As a Mercy College student, you’ll have access to MercyOne Medical Center for many of your clinical rotations. You’ll be able to build relationships with current professionals, networking to place yourself at the best advantage when you graduate.
MercyOne has several career opportunities for Mercy College students both while they are in classes with us and when they graduate. Students looking to earn some cash while in classes can apply for any number of positions with the hospital, earning both a wage and valuable experience working in their healthcare career field of choice. Upon graduation, MercyOne offers up to $50,000 in tuition reimbursement to Mercy College graduates. Costs vary depending on the program and the number of credits you transfer in, but we think you’ll be surprised at how affordable a Mercy College education can be. Our Mercy College PLUS programs are even more affordable, with tuition costs totalling just over $10,000, making the MercyOne tuition reimbursement a powerful incentive for many of our graduates.
What are you waiting for?
To be considered a “transfer” student to Mercy College of Health Sciences, you have to have taken nine or more credits at a college or university. Wherever the most recent nine credits were completed, you must have maintained a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.25 (on a 4.0 scale) in order to be admitted to Mercy College.
Beyond College admission, individual courses are evaluated based on two key criteria: the course must have been taken at an accredited institution of higher learning, and you have to have received a grade of C or higher in the class. But we don’t just accept college coursework – advanced placement (AP) and college level examination program (CLEP) scores may also be considered for transfer credit!
Send your official transcripts from all institutions you’ve attended to our Admissions team and let us do the rest!
It really is that easy. Start your transfer today: mchs.edu/apply
