Mount Mercy College offers strong academics and career connections

Atop the highest point in Cedar Rapids, Mount Mercy College's 40-acre campus is tucked into a tree-lined residential neighborhood, an ideal place for experiencing life at a small, private college.

Perfectly located in one of the most vibrant small cities in the Midwest, Mount Mercy provides an affordable, Catholic, coeducational, student-focused baccalaureate education in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. With an enrollment of around 1500 students, faculty members are able to provide the personal attention students deserve.

The hallmark of Mount Mercy is outstanding teaching. The faculty includes 151 full- and part-time professors, among them Fulbright award-winners, nationally recognized artists, published researchers and authors. Students learn directly from professors rather than teaching assistants. Small classes allow for an interactive learning experience.

Mount Mercy helps students prepare for their future by becoming well-rounded individuals educated to the goals of using reflective judgment, engaging in strategic communication, serving the common good, and promoting purposeful living. Eighty percent of Mount Mercy students are in professional programs including business, education and nursing.  Many students choose to double major combining professional study with popular liberal arts majors such as English, history, political science, psychology, or sociology.

The Cedar Rapids metro area (pop. 180,000) is a rich source of opportunity for students. Mount Mercy faculty members have developed strong connections with professionals in the area, making them excellent resources for students looking for internship and career opportunities.

Mount Mercy's Career Development office provides students with a vast career library, graduate school information, regular job bulletins, assistance with career search and development, workshops, mock interviews and a resume referral program. Alumni are paired with students in the Mount Mercy Mentoring Program according to the student's field of interest. This allows for job shadowing and networking in the community.

The essence of Mount Mercy is the welcoming tradition of the college sponsors, the Sisters of Mercy; individuals of all faiths are welcome at Mount Mercy. Mass is offered weekly in the Chapel of Mercy and interdenominational services and fellowship are offered on Wednesday nights. Campus Ministry supports student-led service learning trips to Appalachia, inner-city Chicago and Mexico. Each of Mount Mercy's student clubs and organizations participates in service activities ranging from adopting families at Christmas, to planting prairie grass, to serving meals in local soup kitchens.

Extracurricular activities at Mount Mercy are considered part of the learning experience. The faculty and staff believe the college experience is enriched by balancing academic pursuits with outside interests. From athletics to student government to the arts, and with more than 30 clubs and organizations, campus life offers a kaleidoscope of activities. The student newspaper, the Mount Mercy Times is published weekly. Mount Mercy athletic teams are part of the Midwest Classic Conference and compete very successfully at the NAIA Division III level. Intercollegiate sports include men's and women's basketball, golf, soccer, cross-county, and track and field; men's baseball; and women's softball and volleyball.