Mercy College of Ohio

About Mercy College of Ohio

Mercy College of Ohio is a specialized Catholic institution of higher education centered on healthcare preparation. Its roots extend to a nursing school founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1918. Today, it is sponsored by Mercy Health and affiliated with Bon Secours Mercy Health, connecting its institutional identity closely to healthcare service and professional education. The college remains operational in 2026, with state authorization extending through December 31, 2030 and current 2026–2027 undergraduate and graduate catalogs available. The college’s scope is narrower than that of a comprehensive university. Its current offerings concentrate on nursing, allied health, medical imaging, health sciences, healthcare administration, and physician assistant education. Students should therefore evaluate Mercy primarily on the strength and fit of a particular healthcare program, its professional requirements, delivery format, and clinical-placement expectations. Some degrees are designed for first-time healthcare students, while others serve licensed professionals seeking advancement. Mercy is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, and multiple professional programs have specialized accreditation or approval. Program-level status matters in regulated health professions, so applicants should consult the accreditation page and the current catalog for their intended program. The college also maintains teach-out arrangements when offerings close; for example, Health Information Technology stopped accepting new students beginning in summer 2026 while enrolled students were allowed to complete under a structured plan.

Admission procedures differ by applicant type and program. For general undergraduate or pre-major admission, high-school applicants must present a diploma with at least a 2.0 GPA or qualifying GED documentation. Some programs require ACT or SAT results, but testing is not a universal requirement. Official transcripts must be sent directly to Mercy, and applicants should review the individual program page because clinical majors can impose prerequisites, additional documentation, and competitive selection criteria beyond general college admission. For clinical majors with limited seats, Mercy lists priority application dates of January 15 for fall and September 15 for spring. The college may continue accepting applications later, including close to the start of a term, but qualified late applicants can be placed on a program waitlist. Transfer applicants may receive a transcript evaluation and, when academically ready, be invited to seek direct admission to a clinical program. Graduate applicants use a separate application and must follow the requirements for their specific degree. International applicants face an important restriction: Mercy states that it is not approved to admit nonimmigrant students and cannot issue Form I-20. Its international-transcript procedure applies to permanent residents, who must provide immigration documentation and obtain a course-by-course evaluation with a calculated GPA from a current NACES member. Students requiring F-1 sponsorship should therefore not apply unless the college’s authorization changes.

Mercy College’s active program list is concentrated in nursing and allied health. Undergraduate choices include Health Sciences, Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, and Medical Imaging, alongside healthcare-oriented certificate options. Nursing pathways serve different entry points, including prelicensure study, an accelerated bachelor’s route, and RN-completion education. Graduate offerings include the Master of Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Science in Nursing, RN-to-MSN pathway, and Master of Health Administration. Availability and delivery mode vary: Mercy identifies both campus-based and online study, while clinically intensive programs require substantial in-person participation. The curriculum links classroom theory with professional practice. Students in clinical programs should expect program-specific standards that may include health documentation, background checks, drug testing, immunization or certification requirements, and eligibility conditions imposed by clinical partners. Meeting general college admission requirements does not necessarily secure a clinical seat; several programs use competitive selection and separate priority dates. Simulation, laboratory work, clinical education, and interprofessional learning support the college’s practice-oriented model. Academic support is available through advising, tutoring, accessibility services, counseling, library resources, and the Student Success Center. Applicants should use the 2026–2027 catalog and their program’s current handbook as the controlling sources for curriculum, progression rules, accreditation, and graduation requirements. The general program page may not show every pathway in equal detail, and programs under teach-out should not be treated as open to new students.

Key Highlights

• Healthcare-focused Catholic college founded in 1918
• Affiliated with Bon Secours Mercy Health
• Institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
• Ohio degree-granting authorization continues through December 31, 2030

Student Life & Environment

Student life at Mercy reflects its small, professionally focused environment. The Student Life office organizes campus events, leadership development, and programming intended for students preparing for healthcare roles. Student Council represents the student body and includes an executive board, program representatives, affinity councils, a Student Activities Board, and academic associations. Current examples include the National Student Nurses Association and the Mu Epsilon Nu chapter associated with men in nursing. Both Toledo-based and online students may participate in Student Council. Support services are a significant part of the student experience. The Student Success Center provides academic advising, tutoring, counseling and wellness support, while accessibility services address approved accommodations. Career and professional-development resources are available to current students and alumni. Because many students balance clinical education, employment, commuting, or online study, engagement may look different from a traditional residential college. Mercy does not present itself as a residential campus and provides off-campus housing resources rather than college-operated accommodation. Students must investigate leases and properties independently; the college expressly states that it does not inspect or endorse the listed housing options. Prospective students seeking a conventional residential experience, varsity athletics, or a large collection of general-interest clubs should verify that Mercy’s specialized environment meets their expectations.

Location & Surroundings

Mercy College’s campus is at 2221 Madison Avenue in Toledo, Ohio. The urban location places students near downtown services and healthcare facilities, fitting the college’s clinical and professional orientation. Mercy describes the campus as close to cultural, recreational, and educational attractions, including the Toledo Museum of Art and local minor-league sports. The surrounding area includes the Old West End and UpTown districts. Students should plan carefully for transportation between campus, home, work, and any assigned clinical sites. Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority services are among the community resources referenced by the college, but the practicality of public transportation will depend on schedules and the location of clinical placements. Applicants should not assume that every clinical experience occurs next to campus. There is no college-sponsored housing. Mercy provides links to independent apartment-search services and identifies several properties within roughly one mile, but these are informational listings rather than approved residences. Students relocating to Toledo should compare lease terms, safety, commuting time, parking, and access to clinical locations before committing to housing.

Costs & Career Outcomes

Mercy publishes separate undergraduate and graduate expense schedules for 2026–2027, along with a program-specific budget for Physician Assistant students. Charges depend on program, credits, and applicable fees. The official materials identify a one-time matriculation fee for entering undergraduate and certificate students, a student-services fee for students meeting the stated enrollment threshold, and a technology fee assessed each semester. Applicants should build their budget from the schedule for their exact program rather than relying on a single institution-wide tuition figure. The 2026–2027 financial-aid budget includes allowances beyond billed tuition and fees, such as books and supplies, food and housing, transportation, personal expenses, and loan fees. Because Mercy does not operate student housing, the housing component is a planning allowance rather than a residence-hall charge. The college participates in federal aid and directs students to complete the 2026–2027 FAFSA. Institutional scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study may be available subject to eligibility; institutional scholarships are generally coordinated with other aid and do not exceed tuition and fees. Career preparation is embedded in Mercy’s healthcare focus through clinical education, simulation, and professionally oriented curricula. The Office of Career and Professional Development offers resources to students and alumni, including job-search guidance, career events, résumé and cover-letter assistance, interviewing preparation, networking, and workplace-professionalism support. Outcomes can vary materially by program, licensure eligibility, location, and prior clinical experience, so applicants should review each program’s published accreditation, examination, and employment disclosures rather than assuming college-wide results.