Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Higher Learning Commission
Toledo, Ohio
42.8% Acceptance Rate
Mercy College of Ohio — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
42.8%Acceptance Rate
961Avg SAT
19Avg ACT
$26,491Annual Cost
$65,409Grad Salary
36.4%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
42.8%
Avg SAT
961
Avg ACT
19
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission
SAT Middle 50%
850–1070
ACT Middle 50%
15–22
Need-Based Aid
36.4% receive Pell
Mercy College of Ohio Mercy College of Ohio, founded in 1993 in Toledo, is a Catholic institution specializing in health sciences education. Affiliated with Mercy Health, the college offers programs in nursing, medical imaging, and health professions across its state-of-the-art health sciences campus. Facilities include high-fidelity simulation labs, an imaging suite with actual clinical equipment, and interdisciplinary learning spaces. Mercy maintains a 7:1 student-faculty ratio in clinical courses, ensuring exceptional hands-on training. The college boasts exceptional licensure exam pass rates and strong employment outcomes for graduates.
Mercy College takes pride in its mission-driven approach that combines professional preparation with Catholic values of compassionate care. Students benefit from clinical rotations throughout the Mercy Health system and community partnerships. The curriculum emphasizes interprofessional education, preparing students for collaborative healthcare practice. Recent expansions include new simulation labs and technology-enhanced classrooms. Mercy College's focused health sciences education, hospital affiliation, and values-based approach make it a leader in healthcare education in northern Ohio.
Mercy College of Ohio Acceptance Rate
Mercy College of Ohio admits roughly 42.8% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What Mercy College Admissions Looks For
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 42.8% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Mercy College of Ohio Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Mercy College of Ohio follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline, though the priority deadline of September 15 is recommended for the best chances of admission and financial aid.
Key Admission Dates
⏳ 51 days left — Priority (Competitive Programs ? Spring)
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Mercy College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
Priority (Competitive Programs ? Spring)
September 15
Priority (Competitive Programs ? Fall)
January 15
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at Mercy College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on Mercy College of Ohio's verified institutional data
--%
Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Mercy College of Ohio (Mercy College) Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if Mercy College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into Mercy College Without SAT or ACT?
Mercy College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt — most applicants test 2–3 times.
Mercy College of Ohio Average SAT Score: 961
The average SAT score of admitted students at Mercy College of Ohio is 961 on the 1600-point scale.
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 961 — Accessible
This average is on the lower end nationally, making a strong score here a genuine advantage.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (1070 SAT or 22 ACT) to stand out. Below average? Mercy College of Ohio allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
If your score is below 850, retaking the SAT is strongly recommended to improve your chances at Mercy College. Retaking multiple times is completely normal — most competitive applicants sit for it two or three times. There's no official limit on attempts.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | 465 | 430 | 500 |
| SAT Reading | 495 | 420 | 570 |
| SAT Composite | 961 | 850 | 1070 |
Below 850, you're behind most admitted students; at 1070 or above, you're ahead of 75% of them. (25th/75th percentile = the score below which that share of admitted students fall.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 950
Can I get into Mercy College of Ohio (Mercy College) with a 1050 SAT?
A 1050 SAT puts you ahead of most of Mercy College's admitted class — but admissions still weighs GPA, course rigor, and essays alongside it. A strong score opens the door; the rest of your profile decides what happens next.
Mercy College of Ohio (Mercy College) ACT Requirements
The average ACT score at Mercy College is 19.
ACT Competitiveness
ACT 19 — Less Competitive
This average is slightly below the national ACT mean.
ACT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Math | 18 | 15 | 20 |
| ACT English | 17 | 13 | 20 |
| ACT Composite | 19 | 15 | 22 |
Can I get into Mercy College of Ohio with a 22 ACT?
A 22 ACT puts you ahead of 75% of Mercy College's admitted students — a strong position, though the ACT is only one benchmark among several admissions weighs.
Unlike the SAT, the ACT scores four separate sections — English, Math, Reading, and Science — each on a 1–36 scale. A noticeably weak section (Science, especially, at STEM-focused schools) stands out to reviewers, so it's worth checking your section breakdown for outliers before applying.
Your ACT score clears the first filter, but GPA, course rigor, extracurricular depth, recommendations, and essays are what carry an application the rest of the way at Mercy College.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Mercy College
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at Mercy College means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Understand That "General Admission" and "Program Admission" Are Two Completely Different Processes Here
Mercy College of Ohio has a near-open general admissions process (93% acceptance rate, 2.0 GPA minimum), but that is not the admission that matters for most students. Clinical programs - including the BSN, ASN, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, and the Physician Assistant Studies program - each carry separate, competitive application processes with their own GPA floors, prerequisite requirements, and hard priority deadlines (January 15 for fall clinical seats). Students who misread the general acceptance rate as representative of program difficulty routinely lose clinical seat competitions because they applied too late or without completing the right prerequisites at Mercy or elsewhere first.
Pursue the Mercy Health Work-While-You-Learn Pathway Strategically
Since 2022, Mercy College has offered a debt-free pathway for nursing students who commit to working at least six hours per week at a Mercy Health facility while enrolled. This arrangement covers tuition, fees, books, and uniforms - and was expanded to additional clinical programs (Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Paramedic, Phlebotomy, Sleep Tech) in late 2023. Students who plan to use this program should begin conversations with Mercy Health HR and the college's financial aid office before they enroll, not after, to ensure their work assignment qualifies and that the post-graduation 18-month employment commitment is something they can honor.
Use the MercyPledge as a Reset Strategy, Not a Backup Plan
Mercy's MercyPledge policy allows students who complete 12 credit hours of general or pre-program coursework at Mercy to establish a new GPA for program admission consideration. This was designed explicitly for students who had unsuccessful starts at other institutions or who are returning to education after a gap. If a student's high school GPA or transcript from another college is below a clinical program's threshold, enrolling as a general college student and banking strong grades in Algebra, Biology, and Chemistry (the three subjects Mercy recalculates for direct-from-high-school applicants) is a legitimate, institutionally-endorsed path into the clinical pipeline.
Apply Early Even Under Rolling Admissions - The School Is Tiny and Seats Are Real
Mercy College enrolled approximately 102 new first-year students in the most recent cohort from 236 total applicants. Clinical programs have finite seat counts that genuinely fill. Rolling admissions with a January 15 priority deadline for fall means that students who submit in November or December position themselves meaningfully better than those who wait until spring. The Direct EDGE program offers a direct-admit BSN pathway for high school seniors who meet GPA and test thresholds - if you're a strong candidate and committed to nursing, this is worth targeting specifically rather than waiting to apply post-enrollment.
Expert Insight:
The most dangerous assumption at Mercy College of Ohio is treating program admission as the same thing as college admission. Students gain acceptance to the college easily, enroll, take prerequisites, and then discover too late that the BSN or Radiologic Technology clinical cohort they were planning to join filled months earlier - or that their prerequisite GPA in Biology and Chemistry fell below the program's competitive floor. Ask the admissions office for the most recent program-specific acceptance rates and average prerequisite GPAs before choosing whether to start at Mercy or pre-enroll elsewhere first.
Mercy College Profile
Full Name
Mercy College of Ohio (Mercy College)
City
Toledo
State
Ohio
ZIP Code
43604-1132
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Higher Learning Commission (NCACHE)
Is a Mercy College Degree Worth It?
At $26,491/year against a $65,409 median graduate salary, Mercy College is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation — the numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
The average household income among admitted students is $58,100, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.38%.
How much does a degree from Mercy College Cost?
The sticker price is $26,491/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is typically much lower.
36.4% of students receive a Pell Grant and 68.9% take federal loans at Mercy College — file your FAFSA early and list Mercy College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a Mercy College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $65,409 — about 61% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Mercy College of Ohio. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff | Pine Bluff, AR | 916 | 16 |
| Bethune-Cookman University | Daytona Beach, FL | 913 | 17 |
| Johnson University Florida | Kissimmee, FL | 940 | NA |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 937 | 17 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| Upper Iowa University | Fayette, IA | 929 | 18 |
| Baker University | Baldwin City, KS | 950 | 17 |
| Southern University and A & M College | Baton Rouge, LA | 938 | 17 |
| Bowie State University | Bowie, MD | 935 | NA |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Mercy College of Ohio. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods, IN | 966 | 17 |
| Union Commonwealth University | Barbourville, KY | 965 | 18 |
| Grambling State University | Grambling, LA | 955 | 17 |
| Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus | Portales, NM | 965 | 18 |
| Chowan University | Murfreesboro, NC | 970 | NA |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Mercy College of Ohio. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faulkner University | Montgomery, AL | 1016 | 20 |
| University of West Alabama | Livingston, AL | 1015 | 20 |
| Central Baptist College | Conway, AR | 1022 | 20 |
| University of Arkansas Community College-Morrilton | Morrilton, AR | 1020 | 20 |
| Williams Baptist University | Walnut Ridge, AR | 1018 | 19 |
Degree Programs at Mercy College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Masters Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
UG Certificate or Diploma Programs
Professional Certificate Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Mercy College Admissions
Median graduate earnings at Mercy College of Ohio run about $65,409 a year.
At about $26,491 a year, Mercy College of Ohio is on the more affordable end.
About 36.4% receive a Pell Grant at Mercy College of Ohio — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
At 42.8%, Mercy College of Ohio's acceptance rate is on the more attainable end compared to top-tier selective schools.
A strong SAT score matters at Mercy College of Ohio — aim above 961, ideally within the 850–1070 range admitted students typically fall in.
The application deadline for Mercy College of Ohio is September 15 for Priority (Competitive Programs ? Spring) applicants. Rolling Admissions is also offered, so applying early improves your chances.
The application fee is 20. Fee waivers may be available — check with admissions.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.