Graduate Program Information

Contacts for Graduate Programs

For more information on particular aspects of Misericordia University, contact the individuals listed below at 570-674-6400 (toll-free at 866-262-6363) between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm. Other university personnel are listed in the directory section of this catalog.

Financial Information

Please refer to Expenses per Semester  section for a listing of all graduate program expenses.

Financial Assistance Programs

Definition of Academic Year

Misericordia University defines its academic year as the period of at least 30 weeks of instructional time, which begins on the first day of classes in the fall semester and ends on the last day of examinations in the spring semester.

The office of student financial services staff are available from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm to discuss individual problems and advise students in matters regarding financial aid and student accounts.

Federal Nurse Traineeship Monies

Federal nurse traineeship monies may be available for full-time graduate students in nursing (students registered for nine or more credits per semester). Please check with the chair, nursing department.

Graduate Assistantships

A limited number of graduate assistantships are available on a competitive basis to graduate students. The assistantships involve designated institutional or programmatic work responsibilities that relate to the student’s graduate studies. Graduate assistantships provide full or partial payment of tuition and/or stipends. Written requests for assistantships should be submitted to the program director, who can provide specific information regarding available assistantships.

Graduate Student Loans

Through the Federal Unsubsidized Direct Loan, graduate students enrolled on at least a half-time basis may apply for up to $20,500 per year. Repayment of principal is deferred until six months after program completion (or after a student ceases enrollment on at least a half-time basis).

Veteran’s Benefits

Misericordia University is approved by the Veteran’s Administration for the education and training of veterans and welcomes the opportunity to provide graduate education to veterans of the armed services. Veterans enrolling at the institution for the first time should notify their local Veteran’s Administration Office in order to apply for educational benefits. This application should be filed six weeks prior to the beginning of the semester. Students must contact student financial services to initiate the process.

Additional Requirements

Students may take coursework outside the academic requirements for their degree; however, he/she should be aware that Title IV financial aid and Veterans Administration aid may not be used to cover the costs associated with such courses. The Student Financial Services Office should be consulted on the impact of taking coursework outside the degree requirements prior to finalizing his/her registration.

Admission Requirements

Matriculation in any graduate program at Misericordia University requires at minimum a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. In addition, some graduate programs have program-specific admissions requirements, which are noted in the program section of the catalog. Applicants must file a formal request for admission along with three letters of recommendation and the results of either the Graduate Records Examination (GRE) or the Miller’s Analogy Test (MAT) as required by specific programs. A complete application consists of the application form, three letters of reference, the application fee, official transcripts of previous academic work to be forwarded directly from the institution at which the credits were earned, and the results of either the GRE or MAT examination as appropriate. Students for whom English is a second language must demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English. The application and all supporting material should be mailed to:

Credentials will be screened by the graduate admissions committee. The applicant will be notified in writing of matriculation status within eight weeks of receipt of a completed application.

Students with Credentials from Foreign Institutions

Applicants with prior coursework from institutions outside of the United States will be required to provide a credential evaluation prepared by either the international credentialing service of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admission Officers (AACRAO), available at ies.aacrao.org; or, a credentialing service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES – a list of members may be found www.naces.org).

Criminal Background Check Internal Policy

Misericordia University is a community rooted in its mission where all are welcome. The University is also committed to the safety of our community. As a result of this commitment, offenses, such as crimes of dishonesty, crimes of violence, crimes involving controlled substances, and other similar offenses that may place the University community at risk, are taken very seriously.

When an applicant for admission indicates on the admissions application that they have been convicted of, have plead guilty to, have plead no contest to, or have a pending charge or charges related to, a criminal incident (including - felony, misdemeanor and/or summary non-traffic offenses), Misericordia University will require further investigation into the applicant’s background. Such applicants will be sent an email from the Admissions Applicant Background Review Committee requesting more information related to the conviction(s) and/or pending charge(s). Additionally, the Committee may schedule a personal interview with the applicant to discuss the situation. If such an interview is to be scheduled, the applicant will be notified by the Committee via e-mail of the date, time and location of the interview. After a review of all available information, a decision on acceptance will be rendered by the Committee and conveyed to the applicant by the University Admissions Department.

If the University discovers that an applicant has failed to disclose a criminal conviction or pending criminal charge as requested in their application for admission, the University may revoke an offer of acceptance if one has been made, or may take other appropriate action consistent with its policies.

Tuition Payment Options

Deferred Payment Plan

Misericordia University provides an option for students to pay tuition, fees, and other charges on a deferred payment plan. The plan permits educational costs to be spread over a period of time. The requirements of the plan are as follows:

1. A down payment of 20% of the total term/semester charges is required unless other arrangements have been made with the office of student financial services.
2. Deferments are limited to one term/semester; the unpaid balance must be paid before final examinations that term/semester. Failure to pay charges in full before final exams may result in loss of credit for the term/semester.
3. Student who fail to meet their deferred payment obligations will be dropped from the plan.

Tuition Reimbursement Payment Plan

Students who receive tuition benefits from their employer may be eligible to participate in Misericordia University’s Tuition Reimbursement Payment Plan. Generally, this payment plan permits tuition and fees to be paid up to 30 days after grades have been sent to students, rather than the time of registration for the course. The requirements of the plan are as follows:

• only part-time students are eligible;
• a tuition reimbursement letter from the employer must be on file prior to registration and must be updated annually. The letter must state the terms of the benefit;
• students must keep the original invoice and final grades for employer verification;
• it is the responsibility of the student, not the employer, to ensure that payment is made within the 30-day period. Students who fail to make payment within the 30-day grace period may be removed from the tuition reimbursement payment plan;
• the 30-day grace period does not apply to graduating students. Tuition and fees must be paid prior to graduation; and,
• students receiving partial tuition benefits must make arrangements to pay the costs not covered by the employer at the time of registration.