About Mercy College
Mercy College is a private, 4-year college with its main campus located near the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry, NY. There are also campuses in the Bronx, Manhattan and Yorktown Heights, NY. Originally established in 1950 as a junior college run by the Sisters of Mercy, it became a 4-year college in 1961 and no longer has a religious affiliation. Mercy College is recognized as a 'Yellow-Ribbon' school by the Department of Veteran Affairs, which means enrolled veterans who have any expenses that go over the highest in-state tuition will be covered by the school.
Academics
Mercy College is divided into five schools that offer over 90 undergraduate and graduate programs. Associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees are offered in many programs, including accounting, business administration, cybersecurity, health services, communication disorders, human resources management and veterinary technology. There is also a doctorate program in physical therapy. The most popular bachelor's degree programs are in the social sciences, health professions and business fields. Undergraduate students can benefit from small class sizes, as 95% of classes have less than 30 students.
The college offers online degree programs in many majors, including business administration, health services management, cybersecurity, nursing, Spanish and web design.
Mercy College's Honors Program is a special program for top students, providing them with many opportunities, including participating in honors classes, academic challenges, seminars with special guests and special study abroad opportunities. Students are given special internship placements and are the first to register for classes. Honors students are also provided with their own laptop from the college, to be used in conjunction with the honors classes for research projects and online classroom activities. Mercy College also offers a Personalized Achievement Contract (PACT) program, which pairs students with mentors from the professional world who help create personalized plans for each student to help reach academic and career goals.
Admissions
Mercy College has rolling admissions and prospective students may apply through an online application or a paper application that can be printed or requested. An academic transcript and interview is required. SAT scores are optional, but are encouraged if the student is a recent high school graduate. Students can upload recommendation letters, resumes or essays with their online applications if they wish, but it isn't required. For the Honors Program, students must be selected by the college, based on academics, community service and leadership. Students who qualify for the Honors Program are notified by invitation after they have been accepted to the college.
In Fall 2010, there were 4,948 applicants and 60% were admitted, with 38% of those admitted actually enrolling. For Fall 2011, the student population consisted of 7,968 total undergraduate students and 3,571 total graduate students. For the same semester, the undergraduate population was 67% female and 33% male.
Tuition & Financial Aid
Tuition for full-time, first-year undergraduate students in the 2011-2012 school year was estimated at $17,360 while books and supplies were estimated to cost an extra $1,384. In addition, room and board was estimated to cost $11,480. Tuition for graduate students for the same year was $13,950.
Tuition for the fall, spring and summer semesters is due three weeks before the first day of class, though monthly, interest-free payment plans are also available. Tuition for the winter and intersession is due upon registration. Students with pending financial aid awards that exceed the amount of tuition can request school bookstore vouchers to purchase textbooks and school supplies.
Financial aid options include direct loans from the U.S. Department of Education, scholarships, grants and work-study programs. Federal and state grants are available based on financial need. For graduate students, assistantships are available. The college offers its own scholarships, both general and for specific areas of study. The college's scholarships are often based on academic merit, special circumstances or financial need, or they may be for a special program. For example, Mercy College's Links-LeMelle Scholarship is awarded to a female African-American student to help with the traveling costs associated with studying abroad to prepare for a career.
| MERCY COLLEGE QUICK FACTS | |
|---|---|
| School Type | Private, 4-year, not-for-profit university* |
| Degrees Offered | Certificate, associate's, bachelor's, master's, post-baccalaureate certificate, post-master's certificate and doctoral* |
| Religious Affiliation | None* |
| Academic Calendar | Semesters, summer session is available** |
| School Setting | Large suburb* |
| Student Body | 7,968 undergraduate students; 11,539 total students (Fall 2011)* |
| Student Housing | On-campus housing is available** |
| ACADEMICS | |
| Schools and Programs | 5 schools; over 90 programs of study** |
| Student-Faculty Ratio | 17 to 1* |
| Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients) | In 2011: Associate's: Liberal Arts and Sciences (48) Bachelor's: General Social Sciences (338) Master's: Elementary Education (350) Doctoral: Physical Therapy (31)* |
| Undergraduate Graduation Rates | 16% in 4 years and 31% in 6 years for students who began in Fall 2005* |
| ADMISSIONS | |
| Admission Rate | 60% in Fall 2010 for undergraduates* |
| Entering Class Size | Approximately 1,083 for Fall 2011* |
| First-Year Retention Rates | 68% of full-time students who began in Fall 2010 returned in Fall 2011* |
| Average SAT Scores | SAT or ACT scores are not required for admission** |
| Undergraduate Application Due Date | Rolling admissions** |
| Decision Notification Date | Decisions are made on a rolling basis** |
| TUITION & FINANCIAL AID | |
| Undergraduate Tuition | $17,360 for 2011-2012* |
| Financial Aid Sources Available (Percentage of Students Receiving It) | 2010-2011 for all undergraduate students: grants or scholarships (61%), Pell grants (58%), federal student loans (55%)* |
| Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid | 93% of first-year undergraduate students for 2010-2011* |
Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics; **Mercy College.
School Contact Information
- Address: Mercy College, Office of Admissions, 555 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522
- Phone: 1-877-MERCY-GO
- Website: www.mercy.edu
