After You're Accepted

Congratulations!

Now that you are admitted to Mercy College, you should have received a Mercy College admissions letter along with a curriculum plan with additional information about your desired program. We encourage you to contact the Admissions Office, at admissions@mchs.edu or 515-643-6715, to set-up an appointment with an Admissions Counselor to discuss the post-admissions process.

The post-admissions process consists of three important steps. 

Step 1: Sign Up for New Student Orientation and Registration

Your first step to becoming a Mercy College student is to sign up for a New Student Orientation and Registration session.

Once the New Student Orientation dates are posted for your selected start term, you will be contacted by the Admissions Office to sign-up for a session. Orientation dates are published 3-4 months prior to the upcoming semester. 

Click here to sign up online for your orientation session. The deadline to sign up for New Student Orientation and Registration is two weeks prior to each session.

The password to register for orientation/registration online will be emailed to you once the dates for the upcoming semester are posted.

Click here for New Student Orientation FAQ's.  

Step 2: Financing your Education

Applying for Financial Aid

Over ninety percent of Mercy College student receive some form of financial aid. Our financial aid officers would be happy to visit with you to determine if you qualify. Financial Aid is available for those who qualify.

To be considered for federal, state, and Mercy College financial aid, you need to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can complete the FAFSA online. To do this, first obtain your federal Personal Identification Number (PIN). Once you have received your federal PIN, you may submit the FAFSA. The Mercy College financial aid office receives the FAFSA information electronically from the Federal Government provided the student uses Mercy College's school code (006273) when completing the FAFSA.

You can file a FAFSA any time after January 1. We recommend that you file the FAFSA as soon as possible after you completed your federal tax return. Submitting early ensures that you will be considered for all available aid. If eligible for Iowa Tuition Grant Funds the FAFSA must be filed by June 30.

Click here for Financial Aid FAQ's

Scholarships

Scholarship programs administered by the Department of Institutional Advancement with the assistance of Mercy Foundation of Des Moines, make numerous Mercy College an donor-designated scholarships available to students. 

Click here for scholarship requirements, deadlines, and applications.

Payment Arrangements

The Mercy College business Office is here to serve you whether you're making a payment to your account, obtaining a billing statement, or discussing payment arrangements. Payment plans are available and arrangements must be made by the first day of class. The business Office is open from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please contact them at 515-643-6629 for more information.

Click here for information on tuition and fees.

Step 3: Final Official Transcripts

Your admission to Mercy College depends on satisfactory completion, with no significant decline in grades, of all academic work still in progress when you applied for admission. An official final transcript of all completed work must be mailed to the Admissions Office prior to the start of your first semester.

Other Possible Steps: 

COMPASS Test

Nursing Pre-Algebra Test (ASN Students Only)

Pre-Nursing students, you will be notified on your ASN Curriculum Plan included with your College admission letter if the Nursing Pre-Algebra Test is required. The test must be taken prior to your orientation/registration session or you will automatically be registered to take MAT 095 (Pre-Algebra).

• Click here to register for your Nursing Pre-Algebra COMPASS Test.
  The password to register online is located on your ASN Curriculum Plan. Please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@mchs.edu or 515-643-6715 if are not able to locate the password.

You must meet one of the following criteria to demonstrate competency in mathematical ability for the Associate of Science in Nursing program:

• Achieve a mathematics score of 22 or higher on the ACT test or a mathematics score of at least 480 on the SAT within the last two years.
• Achieve a grade of “C” (not “C-”) or higher in a college-level algebra course within the last two years.
• Achieve a scaled mathematics score of 80 or greater on the pre-algebra domain of the COMPASS test within the last two years. If a student does not achieve a score of 80 on the COMPASS test, the student must take either MAT 095 Pre-Algebra or MAT 105 College Algebra prior to or concurrent with the first semester of the nursing program. College credit is not awarded for MAT 095. 

CPR

Clinical programs require students to be certified in American Heart Association CPR for the Health Care Provider (including adult, infant, child, 1 and 2 rescuer CPR, AED, and use of a Bag-Valve Mask). You will be notified upon program admission if you are required to be CPR certified. 

If you have not met this requirement, click here to view course and registration information and the schedule of classes. Classes fill quickly, so register as early as possible.

Students registering for the 150-Hour or 75-Hour Advanced Nursing Assistant Course at Mercy College will earn their CPR certification through the course.