Divine Mercy University
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.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersSterling, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
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.
Divine Mercy University firmographics
Firmographics- 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
Divine Mercy University industry classification
Industry- 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
Where Divine Mercy University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Sterling
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Divine Mercy University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- 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.
- 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
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Graduation Fee |
| Subscription | Annual | Eric Travis Schilling Scholarship Fund |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Divine Mercy University product offering
Product offeringCore 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
Companies that use Divine Mercy University
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Divine Mercy University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature2 records
Divine Mercy University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- McLean HospitalcoreThree-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 ChristicorePartnership 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, USAminorTuition 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
Divine Mercy University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect 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
Divine Mercy University social profiles
Digital presenceDivine Mercy University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
Divine Mercy University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Divine Mercy University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles14 records
Divine Mercy University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries3 records
Divine Mercy University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Divine Mercy University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Divine Mercy University
What does Divine Mercy University do?
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.
Is Divine Mercy University a public or private company?
Divine Mercy University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Divine Mercy University founded?
Divine Mercy University was founded in 1999. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Divine Mercy University based?
Divine Mercy University is headquartered in Sterling, United States, in the North America region.
How does Divine Mercy University make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Graduate Tuition is the primary driver. The others are donations and Fundraising.
Who are Divine Mercy University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Regent University, Biola University, Fuller Theological Seminary, Houston Christian University (formerly Houston Baptist University), The Catholic University of America, Seton Hall University and Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University. Liberty University is listed as a broad incumbent. Wheaton College Graduate School is listed as an emerging player. Regnum Christi (Legionaries of Christ) Formation Programs is listed as an others.
Does Divine Mercy University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Divine Mercy University.
What industry is Divine Mercy University in?
Divine Mercy University's product category is Higher Education / Graduate Psychology and Counseling. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAKAG, Christian Colleges with Theological Programs, with a secondary code of EDAHAKAE, Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation). Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.