Misericordia University

Admission to Misericordia University is moderately accessible, though its position in the U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges rankings has softened over recent cycles, moving from 192 in 2020 to 273 in 2026. For the 2025 admissions cycle, the university accepted 70.9% of its applicant pool, placing its acceptance rate higher than 50% of peer schools among all private universities. While gaining admission is relatively straightforward for qualified candidates, enrolling them proves more competitive against rival institutions. The school recorded a yield rate of 17.5% in 2025, which is higher than 56% of peer schools in its comparison group. Because fewer than one in five admitted students ultimately matriculates, families can see that accepted candidates frequently hold choices elsewhere. For prospective applicants, this means qualified students face favorable odds of acceptance, but the university must continually work to persuade its admitted cohort to commit.

Misericordia University operates under a test-blind admissions policy, meaning standardized test scores are not considered during application reviews even if they are submitted. Consequently, recent years have no published SAT or ACT score ranges. Standardized exams were once a common element of the admissions process before this policy took effect; back in 2020, 87% of enrolling students submitted SAT scores while 12% submitted ACT scores. Because test results are entirely excluded from admission decisions, applicants must focus on their overall secondary school record to demonstrate preparation. For prospective students preparing their applications, this means high school coursework, grade trends, and the rigor of classes taken will carry the primary weight in evaluating college readiness. Demonstrating steady academic achievement and sustained effort across core subjects provides the clearest pathway toward submitting a compelling application to this university.

Academic programs at Misericordia University center heavily on clinical healthcare and applied professional tracks, with undergraduate degrees concentrated in a small selection of fields. In 2025, the top three bachelor's majors accounted for 49.3% of all undergraduate degrees awarded. The single largest undergraduate program was registered nursing, graduating 78 students. However, the university's largest undergraduate fields are not its highest-ranked nationally; its primary recognized academic strength lies at the graduate level, where U.S. News ranked its occupational therapy program at 84 in 2026. International students represent a negligible share of the student body across every academic department, making up only 0.3% of bachelor's degree recipients in 2025 and none at the graduate levels. Career earnings strongly reflect this clinical emphasis. Based on 2023 earnings data one year after graduation, registered nursing graduates reported a median salary of $86,785, leading all undergraduate disciplines. For applicants pursuing healthcare credentials, these outcomes demonstrate clear occupational paths, though prospective international students should anticipate studying in virtually all-domestic cohorts.

Misericordia University enrolls a student body that is predominantly White and female across both undergraduate and graduate levels in 2025. Asian students constitute a very small presence on campus, exemplified by 13 returning undergraduates who make up 1.1% of that cohort, alongside limited representation in other divisions. International representation is similarly modest across degree levels. The highest concentration of international learners appears within the undergraduate transfer cohort, where 6 students account for 8.3% of that group, while first-year undergraduate and graduate programs enroll virtually no foreign students. For prospective applicants, these figures illustrate an institution where domestic students comprise nearly the entire campus community, offering an experience deeply rooted in regional demographics.

The student body at Misericordia University is heavily concentrated in traditional college age brackets across both undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2025, students aged 18 to 19 made up 43.5% of the undergraduate population, while those aged 20 to 21 accounted for 35.2%. Together, these two traditional college-age cohorts represent more than three-quarters of all undergraduates, creating a campus environment centered primarily on young adults pursuing immediate post-secondary education. The graduate division shows a similar tilt toward young adults rather than mid-career professionals. Students aged 22 to 24 comprised 61.7% of all graduate students, followed by 16.1% aged 25 to 29. For applicants, this profile points to a learning environment largely shared with peers moving directly from high school through undergraduate and early graduate study.

International enrollment at Misericordia University remains very limited across all degree levels. In 2025, international students comprised 0.6% of the undergraduate student body, an upward trend over the past decade but still higher than only 10% of peer schools among all private universities. At the graduate level, international participation has trended slightly downward, with international students representing just 0.2% of graduate enrollment in 2025. Degree completion data reflects this low overall presence across departments. In 2025, international students accounted for 0.3% of bachelor's degree recipients, with international representation concentrated entirely within the registered nursing program. At the advanced degree level, international students earned no master's or doctoral degrees that year. For prospective international applicants, these statistics demonstrate that Misericordia serves an overwhelmingly domestic student base, meaning overseas candidates will find very few international peers on campus or within their specific academic cohorts.

Applicants evaluating Misericordia University may want to explore several other higher education options within roughly 60 kilometers. In neighboring New York, Binghamton University is a public institution located 51.3 kilometers away and ranked 73 among national universities in the 2027 U.S. News rankings. Closer in Pennsylvania, Bucknell University is a private liberal arts college situated 54.6 kilometers from campus, holding the 29th spot on the national liberal arts list. Students interested in private research universities can consider Lehigh University, which is 59.6 kilometers away and ranked 44 nationally. Additionally, Lafayette College, located 59.7 kilometers away, is ranked 30 among national liberal arts colleges, offering families a variety of institutional sizes and missions within a short drive.

Campus safety at Misericordia University has shown steady improvement over the past decade. Forward Pathway's weighted crime rate per 1,000 students declined from 13.6 in 2016 to 6.4 in 2025, reflecting a significant long-term reduction in overall campus infractions. Between 2023 and 2025, the university's safety record was heavily dominated by non-violent substance policy enforcement handled through internal campus channels rather than criminal arrests. Specifically, institutional records logged 100 disciplinary referrals for alcohol violations and 15 disciplinary referrals for drug violations across that three-year timeframe. More severe criminal incidents, including arrests and sexual offenses, occurred in very low numbers during the same period. For families and prospective students evaluating campus life, these figures indicate that the university maintains a relatively secure environment where security activity primarily addresses administrative violations of campus conduct codes rather than severe criminal threats.