DES MOINES, IOWA – (NOVEMBER 19, 2024) The 2024-25 academic year has only just begun but it is already filled with important milestones for Mercy College of Health Sciences. Not only does the year mark the 125th Anniversary since Mercy College’s founding, but the fall 2024 semester also saw the most new students enrolled in a semester since the College’s beginning.
This fall, a record-setting 376 new students enrolled at Mercy College for the fall 2024 semester, the most new students enrolled in a single semester in the College’s 125-year history. The most recent fall enrollment total marks an 8% increase in new student enrollment compared to the fall 2023 semester. This reflects a 4.5% increase over the previous record set in the fall of 2021, when Mercy College enrolled 359 new students.
The increased interest in healthcare careers could not come soon enough as healthcare institutions across the nation are struggling to overcome shortfalls of nursing and allied health professionals.
“Our community needs knowledgeable, compassionate healthcare leaders,” Mercy College President Dr. Adreain Henry, OD, EdD, MBA, explained. “Healthcare institutions across the nation are experiencing workforce shortages and putting out calls for qualified, educated individuals. Mercy College is answering that call.”
Mercy College’s storied history dates back over 125 years ago when the Catholic religious order of the Sisters of Mercy established the Mercy Hospital Training School in 1899. The first graduating class in 1901 was comprised of seven new nurses. In 2024, Mercy College offers students 16 unique healthcare pathways from which to choose. Classes are taught in a variety of formats by faculty who are expert professionals in their respective fields, and start dates are offered throughout the year to allow students to enroll in courses whenever it is convenient for them.
“Mercy College is the premier institution for healthcare education in Iowa,” Henry emphasized. “Our small class sizes, in conjunction with our simulation and skills labs, distinguished faculty, and hands-on learning opportunities, allow students to experience their careers firsthand and hone their abilities in a safe, educational environment.”
Applications are now being accepted for the spring and summer semesters. The spring term begins on January 6, 2025. For more information, please visit MCHS.edu/Start.
About Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a health sciences specialty school rooted in the Catholic heritage of the Sisters of Mercy. Located in the heart of downtown Des Moines, Iowa, Mercy College offers master’s, bachelor’s, and associate degrees, certificates, and continuing education courses. Through our unique hands-on learning, unparalleled clinical rotations, and accelerated education offerings, our students are prepared to enter the workforce quickly with the critical skills necessary to make an immediate impact in their chosen healthcare careers. Guided by our Core Values of Knowledge, Reverence, Integrity, Compassion, and Excellence, Mercy College has been transforming students into successful healthcare professionals for 125 years.
