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Nursing

96%
EMPLOYMENT RATE
of surveyed alumni within 9 months of graduation
NCLEX-RN
National exam pass Rate
Far above the national average
100%
OF INCOMING FIRST-YEARS & TRANSFERS
Receive scholarships or grants

Setting the standard for nursing education

Discover our Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Mount Mercy University’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is one of the longest-established and most-recognized baccalaureate nursing programs in Iowa.

Mount Mercy offers high-quality, integrated theoretical nursing content, clinical lab simulation, and hands-on experience. Part of the Martin-Herold College of Nursing and Health, our full-time Nursing faculty are recognized as the best in their field. Nurses from local hospitals and agencies also serve as professors—bringing their real-world experience from the bedside into the classroom.

Already a Registered Nurse? Nurses with a valid RN license can enroll in our RN-BSN program for working professionals.

What can you do with a bachelor’s degree in nursing?

Earning your nursing degree is a pivotal step toward advancing in the field, expanding your career opportunities, and increasing your lifelong earning potential.

Nursing majors contribute in the field in many different ways, from hospitals to clinics, to home care and community programs. With your nursing bachelor’s degree, you’ll be ready to serve in the community at every level—from direct patient care to nursing administration.

Graduate prepared to pursue a path as a caregiver, clinical expert, policy maker, or faculty member. Mount Mercy graduates have gone on to work regionally and nationally:

  • UnityPoint, St. Luke’s Hospital, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
  • Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
  • The University of Wisconsin Hospital, Madison, Wisconsin
  • Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa
  • CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska

Why a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Mount Mercy?

For 90+ years, Mount Mercy has been the standard for nursing excellence in Eastern Iowa. Our nurses are prepared to provide outstanding care, offer compassionate service, and continue the legacy of Catherine McAuley and the Sisters of Mercy.

As you work toward your Nursing bachelor’s degree, you’ll grow your professional network and become a leader in the field.

Special programs for Nursing students

Through the MercyReady ProgramRegional Medical Center RN Education Assistance Program, or UnityPoint Health Career Launch Program, you can receive financial support, gain paid work experience while you’re still in school, and graduate with a guaranteed nursing job waiting for you.

At Mount Mercy, my advisor and mentors have encouraged me to define my career goals in the abstract, and then build my career trajectory around those terms.

TESSA FRIASON '16
Registered Nurse, PeaceHealth | Vancouver, Washington

What can you do in our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program?

Our nursing bachelor’s degree combines classroom learning with hands-on clinical experience. Work alongside professors who are practicing professionals. Gain beyond-the-classroom learning in our Clinical Simulation Laboratory (CSL).

What will you learn in our Bachelor of Science in Nursing program?

Gain knowledge of everything from disease paths and the essentials of nutrition to pharmacotherapeutics and population-based nursing. Graduate with your Nursing degree prepared to succeed and lead change within the field.

Our proven legacy of educating nurses for professional roles prepares Mount Mercy’s nursing graduates to achieve a NCLEX-RN national exam pass rate well above the national average.

The nursing bachelor’s degree curriculum is based on the belief that socialization of nursing students into the profession is a journey that continues throughout and beyond their bachelor’s degree in nursing. The faculty has adopted “the hero’s journey” as presented by anthropologist Joseph Campbell as a unifying theme for the nursing curriculum.

View curriculum

Graduate in as little as two years

At Mount Mercy University, we recognize that every individual’s path to education is different. That’s why we believe each student’s curriculum plan should be built with your experience and goals in mind.

Whether you’re an 18-year-old entering college for the first time, an established adult looking for a career change, or a practicing nurse hoping to advance your skill set—we can build a path tailored for you.

We offer a two-year curriculum plan for students who have the appropriate credits and experience, as well as a three-and-a-half-year and traditional four-year plan.

Mount Mercy also offers a Master of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice. Students pursuing their BSN can begin taking master’s-level courses during their fourth-year—smoothly transitioning into our MSN after graduation.

Nursing degree admission options

Admission into Mount Mercy’s nursing degree program is competitive. Annually, 93 students are accepted into the nursing program. Students interested in Mount Mercy’s nursing bachelor’s degree program have two options.

BSN Early Admission

BSN Early Admission to Mount Mercy’s nursing program is designed for high-achieving students. The policy allows early acceptance into Mount Mercy’s Bachelor of Science of Nursing program and the ability to complete the major in 3.5 years. Students must satisfactorily complete nursing pre-requisite requirements to proceed into the nursing degree program.

  • Incoming Freshmen
  • High school GPA of 3.5 on a scale of 4.0, at the time of your application. (The GPA requirement must be maintained through graduation from high school and your final official high school transcript must be submitted to Mount Mercy University.)
  • Minimum ACT score of 25 or SAT of 1200
  • To complete MMU's program in 3.5 years, it is encourages that students complete a minimum of 12 college credits (community college, AP, IB, or CLEP credits) during their high school career.
  • To continue as a nursing major, student must satisfy pre-requisites.

  • Apply and be admitted to Mount Mercy prior to March 1.
  • Complete the Early Admission Application by March 1.
    • As part of the application, you will be asked to complete a 200-word essay on "What influenced you to pursue a career in nursing? Where do you see yourself in five years?"
  • Submit your $200 enrollment deposit by April 1 to guarantee your spot.

BSN Standard Admission

Incoming freshmen not meeting early admission requirements are eligible for BSN standard admission. Standard admission allows students to begin nursing pre-requisites directly during their freshmen year and granted admission into the nursing program upon satisfactory completion of nursing pre-requisites.

Transfer students should contact the admission office during their freshmen year to learn about pre-requisite requirements.

BSN Early Admission is a great opportunity for students to get a jump start on their education and career. We look forward to continuing to develop outstanding caregivers and the health care leaders of tomorrow.

What are the next steps?

Mount Mercy offers competitive tuition and generous scholarships.

We also encourage all students to apply for federal, state, and other kinds of financial assistance.

Learn more about:

We make it easy by accepting applications year-round! No deadline, no fee, no pressure.

  1. Create your application
  2. Apply under standard admissions criteria or go "test optional"
  3. Request official transcripts from all institutions previously attended. Mail to:

* Mount Mercy University Admissions
  1330 Elmhurst Drive NE
  Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52402

* If you are applying for an accelerated program, please mail to "Accelerated Programs"

For more detailed instructions on how to apply, see our Admissions page.