Misericordia University

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Updated March 14, 2024 · 3 Min Read

Learn more about the various counseling degree programs available at Misericordia University.

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Misericordia University is private university in Pennsylvania with a convenient location near two of the state's largest cities and most populous regions. The Religious Sisters of Mercy sent a group of women to Pennsylvania from Ireland in the middle of the 19th century to help some of the poor and sick people in the region. After noticing a lack of educational opportunities, the Sisters decided to found their own college. This school started as a primary school that offered classes for younger children, but they quickly established a night college too. The night school provided classes and opportunities for those who didn't want to work in the primary industries in the region at that time. Though they purchased land in 1914, it wasn't until 1924 that the school became Misericordia and finally opened. Its enrollment grew from around 50 students in its first year to more than 3,000 students today.

MU is still a religious institution that has an affiliation with both the Sisters of Mercy and the Roman Catholic Church. Students from any denomination can apply, and the university does not make church service mandatory like other schools do. The school spent a number of years operating under the name College Misericordia before polling alumni and current students on a potential name change. Results of that survey led to the school asking for and receiving permission from the state to become Misericordia University. The university has a unique Guaranteed Placement Program (GPP) that guarantees students will find work when they graduate. If a student cannot find work or does not get into graduate school within six months, they can contact the university and get help locating a paid internship.

Misericordia University Accreditation Details

Misericordia University has the approval required to offer 13 different degree types and majors in dozens of fields at all educational levels. It also has the regional accreditation that is a requirement for those applying for federal aid money. The regional accreditation that Misericordia University has comes from the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE). To retain its MSCHE accreditation, the university must agree to renew it every 10 years. Nine professional organizations accredited the university's degree programs too, including:

  • Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology
  • Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology
  • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
  • Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education
  • Pennsylvania Department of Education

Misericordia University Application Requirements

Prospective MU students can request a course catalog or view the online bulletin. This bulletin offers photos of the campus, some of the buildings where students will take classes and students in action. You can use this bulletin to learn more about its degree programs and to find out what classes you will take. The university hosts open houses throughout the year that you can attend too. Each open house lets prospective students tour the campus, check out the residence halls and restaurants on the campus and even meet with department heads and professors.

Before you can apply, you must create your own unique account on the application website. MU uses multiple layers of protection to keep private information like your social security number safe. This system will not share your application with anyone except for the admissions review board. You can log in and finish most of the application in 20 minutes, but you may want to come back at a different time to work on your application. If you need to make any changes to the application in the future, you'll need to contact the university. MU asks for a high school transcript and standardized test score too.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Misericordia University charges a regular tuition rate for full-time students that is around $30,000 a year. Regular tuition rates apply to all full-time students. You can take up to 17 credits per semester. The cost of living on the MU campus will add at least $7,000 to your total cost, but this figure depends on where you live, the number of roommates you have and the meal plan that you select. If you take less than 12 credits in a semester, you are a part-time MU student. These students pay $595 per credit. MU offers a reduced tuition rate for students enrolled in an off-campus program that drops the cost down to $405 per credit.

No matter how many classes you want to take or how much money your family saved for your college years, you can still use the FAFSA. MU requires that you apply for financial aid by May 1 of the same year that you want to start classes, but the government now lets you submit this form in the fall of the year before you start college. The financial aid packages that the university creates often feature assistance in the form of loans, grants and scholarships. You may qualify to join the university's work study program too. This program pays you a rate above minimum wage and allows you to work between 10 and 20 hours a week.

Featured Online Programs

Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.

Psychology Programs and Certificates

To get your BS in Psychology through MU, you need to take 46 credits of psychology classes in addition to the general education requirements that the university has in place. You must do an independent research project or do a practicum, which lets you develop stronger and more effective research skills. The university requires that you take at least six credits of courses in different fields of psychology too, including clinical and counseling psychology and biology and cognition. MU now offers a specialization in mental health interventions that requires you take 21 credits of classes on child and adolescent psychology, assessments and counseling. You can specialize in either adult or child interventions.

Two of the certificate programs you may find interesting include one in addictions counseling and one in autism spectrum disorders. The autism spectrum disorders certificate helps you gain a better understanding of these disorders and how you can work with patients of all ages suffering from similar conditions. Those who want to work with substance abusers can either get a certificate or minor in addictions counseling. This Misericordia University program is only open to students with a bachelor's degree and requires that they take 25 credits of classes.

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