Divine Mercy University

What Divine Mercy University does

Divine Mercy University (DMU) is a private Catholic graduate institution headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, founded in 1999 as the Institute for the Psychological Sciences. The university specializes in graduate-level psychology and counseling education that integrates scientific clinical training with a Catholic-Christian understanding of the human person. Its core academic portfolio spans the APA-accredited Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (on-campus), the CACREP-accredited M.S. in Counseling, a 100% online M.S. in Psychology, the online Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, and a Spiritual Direction Certificate program delivered with Regnum Christi. Beyond degree programs, DMU operates a wholly-owned training clinic (IPS Center for Psychological Services), a Center for Trauma and Resiliency Studies that trains practitioners on the proprietary H.E.A.R.T. trauma model, a School of Spiritual Direction, a publishing arm (DMU Press), and the Called to Flourish podcast. The institution holds APA, CACREP, and SACSCOC accreditations simultaneously, an unusual credentialing stack for a faith-based graduate school.

DMU generates revenue primarily through graduate tuition across its degree and certificate programs, supplemented by donations, scholarship fundraising (e.g., Bishop Loverde and Eric Travis Schilling funds), and ancillary fees such as a $75 one-time graduation fee. Go-to-market is a traditional admissions-led motion with applications, recommendations, statements of intent, and interview days for the on-site Psy.D., alongside self-serve online enrollment for the M.S., Ph.D., and certificate programs. Distribution is hybrid: direct enrollment domestically for on-campus programs, online globally for remote programs, and channel partnerships with Regnum Christi (spiritual direction) and the Archdiocese for Military Services (tuition reduction for chaplains). A three-year strategic collaboration with McLean Hospital — funded by the Orange Crimson Foundation — extends research and training reach into Harvard Medical School's largest psychiatric affiliate.

The target customer is the faith-affiliated or faith-curious graduate learner seeking APA/CACREP-eligible clinical training alongside a Catholic-Christian intellectual framework: doctoral psychology candidates, master's-level counselors, counselor educators, military chaplains, and clergy or laypeople pursuing spiritual direction training. The business model is subscription-recurring in form (per-semester tuition) but ultimately enrollment-cycle-dependent, with donor and scholarship support layered on top. Operational scale is modest (51-100 employees, single campus) and revenue is not publicly disclosed, consistent with a small private graduate institution building differentiated programs within a niche addressable market.

Name

Divine Mercy University

Legal name

Divine Mercy University

Website

https://divinemercy.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Divine Mercy University is a private Catholic graduate university in Sterling, Virginia, founded in 1999, that offers APA- and CACREP-accredited psychology and counseling degrees plus spiritual direction certificates, serving faith-affiliated clinicians, counselors, and clergy seeking science-based training integrated with Catholic-Christian anthropology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Graduate Psychology and Counseling

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710), Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE), Mental Health Counseling & Psychotherapy Services (EDALAFAB), School Psychology Services & Psychoeducational Support (EDAKAMAC)

Keywords

• Graduate psychology degrees
• Clinical counseling programs
• Spiritual direction training
• Doctoral clinical psychology
• Counselor education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Sterling

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Graduate Tuition: Revenue from tuition fees for graduate degree programs including Psy.D., M.S. in Psychology, M.S. in Counseling, Ph.D. programs, and certificate programs in spiritual direction.
2. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from alumni, supporters, and foundations including scholarship funds like the Bishop Loverde Scholarship Fund and Eric Travis Schilling Scholarship Fund.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Divine Mercy University sells accredited graduate degree and certificate programs in clinical psychology, counseling, psychological sciences, and spiritual direction, delivered on-campus and 100% online. Programs integrate scientific psychology with Catholic-Christian anthropology of the human person. Offerings include a Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology (APA accredited), M.S. in Psychology, M.S. in Counseling (CACREP accredited), Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision, Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences, and a Spiritual Direction Certificate, alongside continuing-education units such as the Center for Trauma and Resiliency Studies and Foundations of Advance Clinical Supervision.

Product overview

Divine Mercy University is a Catholic graduate institution offering degree programs in psychology and counseling, founded in 1999 as the Institute for the Psychological Sciences. The university's portfolio includes doctoral programs (Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology, Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision), master's programs (M.S. in Psychology, M.S. in Counseling), and certificate programs (School of Spiritual Direction, Center for Trauma and Resiliency Studies). The university distinguishes itself by integrating Catholic-Christian understanding of the human person with scientific psychology. Programs are delivered through on-campus, online, and hybrid formats. The institution also operates auxiliary services including the IPS Center for Psychological Services (on-site training clinic), Divine Mercy University Press, and the Called to Flourish Podcast.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Called to Flourish Podcast: Mental health podcast covering topics through a Catholic Christian perspective hosted by Fr. Charles Sikorski and Thomas Cronquist.

Products and services

• Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology Fully APA-accredited on-campus doctoral program in Clinical Psychology featuring on-campus training, competitive internship placement, low student-to-faculty ratio, and integration of Catholic-Christian anthropology with scientific clinical training. Designed for students pursuing licensure as clinical psychologists.
• M.S. in Psychology 100% online Master of Science in Psychology with five concentration areas, completable in as few as 16 months on a flexible learning platform. Designed for non-therapists pursuing careers in education, human services, and pastoral work.
• M.S. in Counseling CACREP-accredited Master of Science in Counseling preparing students for careers as professional counselors, combining online classes with in-person training grounded in the integrated person framework. CACREP accreditation valid through October 31, 2031.
• Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision Online doctoral program preparing counselors for career opportunities in higher education, clinical supervision, research, leadership, and advocacy, combining online and in-person training with focus areas in advanced counseling, counselor education, supervision, research, and advocacy.
• Ph.D. in Psychological Sciences Doctoral program in psychological sciences offered by Divine Mercy University within its graduate academic portfolio.
• School of Spiritual Direction (SOSD) School offering Foundational, Certificate, and Ministry Support programs rooted in Catholic tradition for personal and spiritual development, preparing individuals for spiritual service. Includes the Spiritual Direction Certificate (SDC) delivered jointly with Regnum Christi (six online courses, two onsite residences, and a practicum). Nearly 90 students enrolled across the first cohorts.
• Center for Trauma and Resiliency Studies (CTRS) Provides trauma training both virtually and on-campus, including the proprietary H.E.A.R.T. Model (Healing Emotional/Affective Responses to Trauma) developed by Dr. Benjamin Keyes for treating PTSD, combat trauma, childhood trauma, and related conditions. Targets mental health professionals seeking advanced trauma certifications.
• Foundations of Advance Clinical Supervision (FACS) Continuing-education offering within the Lifelong Learning Institute providing professional development for clinical supervisors.
• IPS Center for Psychological Services DMU's onsite training clinic located in Loudoun County, Virginia, providing affordable, Catholic-centered counseling and mental health treatment for adults and children. Serves as a clinical training site for DMU students and a community mental health service.
• Postgraduate Certificate in Catholic Christian Psychology and Bioethics Postgraduate certificate offered within the M.S. in Psychology program focusing on Catholic Christian approaches to psychology and bioethics.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7 of 8 Psy.D. students matched with APA-accredited internship sites
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• McLean HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2020Three-year strategic collaboration agreement with McLean Hospital, the largest psychiatric affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Focus areas include: (1) Training and education in Borderline Personality Disorder, (2) Joint research on spirituality and mental health, (3) Worldwide dissemination of acquired knowledge. Funded by Orange Crimson Foundation grant.
• Regnum ChristicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 December 2018Partnership to address the pressing need for spiritual directors in the Church and world. Combined DMU's academic expertise with Regnum Christi's deeply Christ-centered spirituality to prepare students as spiritual directors. SDC Program includes six online courses, two onsite residences, and practicum.
• Archdiocese for Military Services, USAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTuition reduction partnership offering financial support to chaplains and laity who desire to provide mental health services through DMU's online psychology and counseling degree programs.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Regent University: Virginia Beach-based private Christian university offering doctoral programs in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) and counseling, with explicit integration of faith and psychology. Closest direct competitor to DMU in the faith-based graduate psychology segment.
• Biola University: Private Christian university in La Mirada, California offering APA-accredited Psy.D. and Rosemead School of Psychology with biblically-based integration of psychology. Highly comparable to DMU in faith-based clinical psychology training.
• Fuller Theological Seminary: Pasadena-based graduate seminary with the Graduate School of Psychology offering APA-accredited Psy.D. and Ph.D. programs integrating psychological science with Christian theology. Strong peer on faith-science integration methodology.
• Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University): Private Baptist university offering APA-accredited Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with Christian integration. Comparable size and faith-anchored clinical psychology model.
• The Catholic University of America: Washington, D.C.-based national Catholic university with doctoral psychology programs (Psy.D. and Ph.D.) at the Center for the Study of Personality in Religion. Direct Catholic-affiliated peer in graduate clinical psychology.
• Seton Hall University: Catholic university in New Jersey with APA-accredited Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology (including a concentration in spirituality and mental health). Strong peer on Catholic integration of psychology and counseling.
• Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University: APA-accredited graduate school of professional psychology at Biola University offering Psy.D. with biblically-based integration. Embedded unit within Biola; directly comparable Christian clinical psychology program.

Broad incumbents

• Liberty University: Large private Christian university with online and residential Psy.D. and counseling programs, including CACREP-accredited offerings. Significantly larger scale and broader brand but overlapping faith-anchored psychology market.

Emerging players

• Wheaton College Graduate School: Evangelical Christian liberal arts college with APA-accredited Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology at the Graduate School. Comparable faith-integrated clinical training model, though evangelical rather than Catholic.

Others

• Regnum Christi (Legionaries of Christ) Formation Programs: Catholic religious congregation and lay movement already in partnership with DMU on the Spiritual Direction Certificate. Acts as a feeder/partner ecosystem for DMU's spiritual direction pipeline rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/divinemercyuniv
• YouTubeyoutube.com/divinemercyuniversity
• Facebookfacebook.com/divinemercyuniversity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/2727008
• Instagraminstagram.com/divinemercyuniversity

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Divine Mercy University