2022-2023 Graduate Catalog > Office of Admission > Graduate Admission

Graduate Admission

Applicants to graduate programs at Mercy College of Ohio are assessed according to academic background, aptitude for graduate-level work, and professional experience. Applicants to graduate programs are required to have access to the internet to complete online coursework.

PLEASE NOTE: Mercy College has not petitioned or received approval from the United States Department of Homeland Security to sponsor international students for F-1, J-1, or M-1 immigration status and cannot issue Form I-20 or other sponsoring documentation. An applicant for admission must be a U.S. Citizen or a U.S. Permanent Resident, possess valid immigration status, or must have permission to be present and attend school in the United States. We require all non-U.S. citizen students to provide proof of immigration status or lawful presence in the United States.

Immigration Status Admission Policy

Mercy College of Ohio only admits students who are U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, who have valid immigration status, or who otherwise have permission to be present and attend school in the United States. Students who lose their immigration status or lose their permission to remain and attend school in the United States during the course of their studies will no longer be eligible for enrollment in the school and will be dismissed.

Students whose degree or educational program requires licensure in order to practice their profession are responsible for contacting the licensing board in the state(s) in which the student intends to sit for the appropriate licensure exam(s) to determine the requirements for obtaining licensure and whether the student will be able to meet those requirements. Mercy College of Ohio makes no representations regarding any students’ ability to sit for the licensure exams or to obtain employment in their chosen field.

Applicants with international transcripts are required to submit their official transcripts to World Education Services (WES) for a course-by-course level evaluation and calculated cumulative grade point average (GPA). Contact WES at www.wes.org.

Program Specific Admissions Requirements are listed in the individual program section of this Catalog including additional requirements, information, and admission restrictions on program admissibility.  Refer to the specific program section for information or details.  Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) applicants should refer to the program-specific materials. 

Deferring Admission

Applicants admitted to graduate programs may choose to defer admission for up to one year. 

Readmission to a Graduate Program

Students who have withdrawn from a graduate program of study in good standing are eligible for readmission within one year. Students must submit written requests to the appropriate Program Director requesting readmission. Approval is contingent on space being available within the program and course availability relative to student progress to date.

Admission Decisions

The Admission Committee for the specific graduate program determines the admission status of all applicants. Admission is not guaranteed.

The following admission decisions are based on the status of the application materials:

Full Admission

Applicant has submitted application, all required documents, and any fees required for the Graduate Studies program.

Conditional Admission

Conditional Admission Status for graduate studies applicants only applies to the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.

Applicant is missing one to two required components of the application materials and is admitted conditionally based on the receipt of the missing component(s).  Once the missing component(s) are received and verification of minimum qualifications for acceptance is completed, applicants will be granted full admission.

Special Status Admission

Special Status Admission for graduate studies applicants only applies to the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.

Applicants who wish to take a graduate level course, but are not admitted to a graduate program, may be admitted as special status students. The graduate program director and the course faculty must approve admission into a course.

Special Status Students – Individuals taking classes for their own interest or knowledge or who have already earned a college degree and want to take classes for personal and/or professional development.

Provisional Admission

Provisional Admission Status for graduate studies applicants only applies to the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.

Applicants may be granted Provisional Admission Status for the MHA or MSN if either of the following conditions exist:

1. Applicants graduated from an institution that is approved/accredited by a recognized accreditor and a regional accrediting organization recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) but earned a minimum 2.3 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in their baccalaureate degree, which does not meet the required 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale).
2. Applicants graduated from an institution that is approved/accredited by a recognized accreditor and a national accrediting organization recognized by the Council of Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA (on a 4.0 scale) in their baccalaureate degree.

Conditions of Provisional Admission

Failure to meet any of the conditions below will result in program dismissal.

1. Students are required to earn a grade of a “B” or higher in the first nine (9) credit hours of coursework to be fully admitted to the program. Students who fail to meet this in the middle of a semester will be permitted to finish enrolled coursework.
2. Students are required to follow and successfully complete an Academic Success Plan that includes meeting with:
   • Mercy College of Ohio or Smarthinking Writing Tutor 1-2 times each semester
   • Program Director/Program Coordinator 1-2 times each semester
   • Other services identified to promote student success

Denied Admission

Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications for acceptance will be denied admission.

Application Review

Application Review applies to the Master of Health Administration (MHA) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs.  MPAS applicants should refer to the program-specific materials.  

Applications to the graduate programs are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applications received less than ten business days prior to the start of each semester may be moved to the next semester, excluding summer.

Upon review of applications and required items, applicants are notified of admission decisions from the appropriate graduate program. Accepted applicants receive additional information such as a sample program of study, and how to schedule advising appointments, register for courses, and access online orientation.

Graduate Student Transfer Credit