What Mercy College of Health Sciences does

Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, nonprofit Catholic health sciences college headquartered at 928 6th Avenue in Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 1899 by the Sisters of Mercy, it is the only private Catholic college in central Iowa and operates with 101-250 employees, offering a focused portfolio of healthcare degree programs (associate, bachelor's, and master's levels), certificate programs, and continuing education credentials across nursing, diagnostic medical sonography, radiologic technology, medical assisting, paramedic/EMS, physical therapist assistant, healthcare administration, and public health. The college is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and holds programmatic accreditations from JRCERT (Radiologic Technology) and CAAHEP (Diagnostic Medical Sonography).

The college's core technology stack centers on hands-on healthcare simulation and skills lab environments, supplemented by the Canvas LMS (with a separate MercyPLUS instance for online programs), CastleBranch/Verified Credentials for clinical compliance, and Uwill for student teletherapy. Distribution is primarily through direct enrollment via the college website and admissions office, with clinical training delivered through partnerships with MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and, as of May 2026, Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio. Marketing channels include the official website, social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), virtual tours, and healthcare partner referrals.

The business model is tuition-based: students pay subscription-style recurring tuition (billed annually per program) for degree and certificate enrollment, supplemented by continuing education course fees. Financial aid, scholarships, and payment plans are available. Revenue is not publicly disclosed. The college is currently investing in capacity expansion, most notably through the $15.2 million fully funded Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing (groundbreaking April 2026) and the launch of a new Radiologic Technology program in Ohio. Customer base is individual students, with a primary concentration in the central Iowa region plus the new Ohio partnership market.

Name

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Legal name

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Website

https://mchs.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1899

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private Catholic nonprofit health sciences college in Des Moines, Iowa (founded 1899) offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates, and continuing education in nursing and allied health, serving traditional students, career changers, and working healthcare professionals in central Iowa and, as of 2026, Ohio.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Health Sciences Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Nursing (EDAHAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online Healthcare & Nursing Universities (Allied Health, RN-to-BSN, etc.) (EDAHALAF), Allied Health & Rehabilitation Sciences Schools (PT/OT/SLP, etc.) (EDAHAGAH)

Keywords

• Health sciences education
• Nursing degree programs
• Allied health training
• Healthcare workforce development
• Continuing medical education

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Fees: Mercy College generates revenue primarily through tuition for its degree programs (associate, bachelor's, master's), certificate programs, and continuing education courses. Students pay tuition based on their program of enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private Catholic health-sciences institution that delivers accredited master's, bachelor's, and associate degree programs, certificate programs, and continuing education courses in nursing, diagnostic medical sonography, radiologic technology, medical assisting, paramedicine, and other allied health fields. Programs are delivered on campus, online, and hybrid, with hands-on clinical rotations at partnered healthcare systems. Student support services include the Norkaitis Student Success Center, Uwill teletherapy, and clinical-compliance platforms.

Product overview

Mercy College of Health Sciences is a Catholic healthcare-focused educational institution offering a comprehensive portfolio of degree programs (master's, bachelor's, associate degrees), certificate programs, and continuing education courses. The institution operates the Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing and provides online/hybrid delivery options. Key academic programs include nursing (ASN, BSN, MSN), Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiologic Technology, Medical Assisting, and Emergency Medical Services. Student support services include the Norkaitis Student Success Center (tutoring, counseling), Uwill teletherapy partnerships, and clinical compliance platforms (CastleBranch/Verified Credentials). The college leverages Canvas LMS for course delivery and emphasizes hands-on clinical rotations across the healthcare sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing: Named school for nursing education within Mercy College, currently under development as part of the Legacy of Faith Campaign.

Products and services

• Master's Degrees (Nursing Education, MSN) Graduate-level degree programs including the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a Nursing Education concentration, preparing students for advanced healthcare roles and nursing faculty positions.
• Bachelor's Degrees (BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN, Health Science, Healthcare Administration, Public Health) Undergraduate degree programs in Nursing (BSN, Accelerated BSN, RN to BSN), Health Science (Pre-Health Professions), Healthcare Administration, and Public Health, preparing students for healthcare careers and advancement.
• Associate Degrees (ASN, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiologic Technology, Medical Assisting, Paramedic/EMS, Accelerated Physical Therapist Assistant) Two-year Associate of Science/Applied Science degree programs in Nursing (ASN), Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Radiologic Technology, Medical Assisting, Paramedic/Emergency Medical Services, and an Accelerated Physical Therapist Assistant program, providing direct pathways into the healthcare workforce.
• Certificate Programs (Medical Laboratory Science, Certified Nursing Assistant) Professional certification programs including Medical Laboratory Science and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), enabling rapid entry into healthcare careers.
• Continuing Education Courses (ACLS, BLS/CPR/First Aid, PALS, AHA Instructor, EMT, AEMT, Critical Care Paramedic, EKG, Advanced Medical Life Support, Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support) Ongoing continuing education courses for healthcare professionals, including ACLS, BLS/CPR/First Aid, PALS, AHA Instructor classes, EMT, AEMT, Critical Care Paramedic, Basic and Advanced EKG, Advanced Medical Life Support, and Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support, supporting certification maintenance and skill updates.
• Online and Hybrid Degree Delivery Flexible online and hybrid learning options for Mercy College degree programs, including the radiologic technology program delivered through the Mount Carmel College of Nursing partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% placement rate for vascular sonography program (2023-2025)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MercyOne Des Moines Medical CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 April 2026Key healthcare partner providing clinical rotation opportunities and affiliation for nursing and allied health students. MercyOne COO participated in Joyce E. Lillis School of Nursing groundbreaking ceremony.
• Mount Carmel College of NursingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Collaboration to offer an accredited Associate of Science in Radiologic Technology program starting May 2026. Students complete online coursework through Mercy College while attending in-person skills labs at Mount Carmel College of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio, with clinical experiences at Mount Carmel Health System.
• Mount Carmel Health SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Clinical experiences for the Radiologic Technology program provided at Mount Carmel Health System facilities in Ohio.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Allen College: Independent, faith-affiliated health sciences college in Waterloo, Iowa offering nursing and allied health degrees. Closest in scope, region, and scale to Mercy College of Health Sciences.
• Bryan College of Health Sciences: Lincoln, Nebraska-based health sciences college affiliated with Bryan Health system, focused on nursing and allied health. Comparable size, scope, and hospital-affiliated operating model.
• Mount Carmel College of Nursing: Faith-based, nursing-focused college in Columbus, Ohio. Is Mercy College's named partner on the radiologic technology program and shares an overlapping Catholic hospital-affiliated mission and similar scale.
• St. Luke's College: UnityPoint Health-affiliated health sciences college in Sioux City, Iowa, focused on nursing and radiologic technology. Direct comparability on Iowa hospital-system affiliation, regional scale, and program mix.
• Nebraska Methodist College: Methodist-affiliated health professions college in Omaha offering nursing, allied health, and physician assistant programs. Highly comparable Midwest, faith-based, hospital-affiliated health sciences model.
• Marian University: Catholic university in Indianapolis with a College of Osteopathic Medicine and strong health sciences programs. Comparable faith-based, health-focused portfolio and Midwest footprint.
• Resurrection University: Catholic-affiliated health sciences university in Chicago focused on nursing and allied health. Comparable faith-based mission and program portfolio at slightly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Grand Canyon University: Large for-profit university with a deep nursing and health sciences portfolio, including online and ground options. Competes for the same students across the U.S. from a much larger, well-capitalized base.
• Regis University: Catholic, Jesuit-affiliated university in Denver with a strong Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions. Comparable faith-based identity and broad health sciences scope but operates as a wider comprehensive university.
• Chamberlain University: Large, for-profit nursing and health professions-focused university with national online reach. Competes directly for similar students but at much greater scale and with broader program offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MercyCollege_IA
• Facebookfacebook.com/265563369377
• Instagraminstagram.com/mercycollegeiowa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mercy-college-of-health-sciences

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mercy College of Health Sciences