Career Training Path › Iowa › Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, Iowa · Private non-profit college · Training programs available:
Address: 928 6th Ave, Des Moines, IA 50309 · Phone: (515) 643-3180 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
No accreditor sanctions in the last 36 months
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private non-profit trade school in Des Moines, IA offering medical assistant, EMT, and radiology tech programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and others.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, graduates of Mercy College of Health Sciences carry a median debt of $14,745 and earn a median of $62,234 ten years after entry; the campus completion rate itself is not reported.
Cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Mercy College of Health Sciences; contact the school for current tuition. It does participate in federal financial aid (Title IV), and about 33.9% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical assistants | $36,730 | $45,480 | $48,030 |
| Emergency medical technicians | $35,600 | $40,660 | $47,870 |
| Radiologic technologists and technicians | $54,360 | $65,930 | $79,390 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Iowa (May 2025; national where the state figure is not published). The program table below shows what this campus's own graduates earned in their first year, whatever job they took.
Trade programs at this campus
| Program | Credential | Grads / yr | Earnings, yr 1 | Earnings, yr 2 | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 71 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Certificate, 1–2 years | 33 | not reported | $34,704 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 10 | $48,954 | $46,087 | $19,614 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 8 | $48,954 | $46,087 | $19,614 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 2 | not reported | $41,789 | not reported |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | Associate degree | 1 | $48,954 | $46,087 | $19,614 |
Earnings are median wages and self-employment income reported to the IRS (W-2 and Schedule SE) for graduates who received federal aid and were working and not enrolled, measured in the calendar year after finishing. They are pay only: health insurance, retirement contributions and other benefits are not included.
Graduates per year from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey. Earnings and debt are College Scorecard field-of-study medians for graduates of this program at this campus (reported at the 4-digit program level, so closely related programs share a figure); "not reported" means too few graduates were counted to publish a figure.
About this school
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private non-profit trade and career training campus in Des Moines, Iowa. It participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), meaning eligible students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for their education. The school holds accreditation from several bodies, including the Higher Learning Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology. Its most common trade programs are medical assistant programs (73 completers), EMT and paramedic training (34 completers), and radiology and sonography programs (18 completers), out of 6 total program offerings and 125 total trade completers.
Federal data shows a state average completion rate of 63.6% in Iowa, though this campus's own completion rate and its comparison to that average are not reported for this campus in federal data. Graduates carry a median debt of $14,745, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $62,234. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 33.9% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income enrollment.
This campus, located in a midsize city with 867 undergraduate enrollment, offers programs spanning shorter certificate-style training (EMT, medical assistant) to more clinically intensive allied health fields (radiology, physical therapy-related education). Program length details are not reported here, so prospective students—including career changers—should confirm scheduling and duration directly with the school. To verify accreditation status and outcome data independently, check with the listed accreditors or search the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Mercy College of Health Sciences offers 6 programs, most commonly medical assistant programs (73 completers), EMT and paramedic training (34 completers), and radiology and sonography programs (18 completers).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, it is accredited by multiple bodies including the Higher Learning Commission, the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, this school participates in Title IV federal financial aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
This campus's completion rate is not reported in federal data. The Iowa state average completion rate is 63.6%, but a direct comparison for this campus is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Graduates carry a median debt of $14,745, per federal data.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $62,234, per federal data.
How much does it cost to attend for a year?
Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data; contact the school at (515) 643-3180 or visit mchs.edu for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private non-profit institution, which typically means it reinvests revenue into educational programs rather than distributing profits to shareholders.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Program length is not reported in the available data; contact the school directly to confirm program duration and scheduling.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation status with the listed accrediting bodies and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?153977.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The school offers both shorter allied health training (EMT, medical assistant) and more advanced clinical programs, but specific scheduling or adult-learner accommodations are not reported in this data; contact the school to ask directly.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensing and certification requirements are not reported in this data; contact the school or check with your state's licensing board for specific program requirements.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Mercy College of Health Sciences at (515) 643-3180 or through its website, https://www.mchs.edu/.
How does this campus compare with other schools offering the same trade nearby?
Comparative data with other nearby schools is not reported in this dataset; use the College Scorecard link to look up and compare other institutions in Iowa.
Other trade and career schools in Des Moines, IA
- UnityPoint Health-Des Moines School of Radiologic TechnologyDes Moines, IA · career school
- Iowa School of Beauty-Des MoinesDes Moines, IA · 81% completion
- DMACC Transportation InstituteDes Moines, IA
- Body Wisdom Massage Therapy SchoolUrbandale, IA · 91% completion
- Des Moines Area Community CollegeAnkeny, IA · 39% completion
- Western Iowa Tech Community CollegeSioux City, IA · 50% completion
- Kirkwood Community CollegeCedar Rapids, IA · 43% completion
- Eastern Iowa Community College DistrictDavenport, IA · 45% completion
See all trade and career schools in Iowa or search by ZIP code.
Data: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) 2022-23 Completions survey; College Scorecard June 2026; Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs (DAPIP), September 2026. Figures are the U.S. Department of Education's official measures, not Career Training Path's opinion. Tuition, schedules and program availability change — confirm with the school before enrolling.