Career Training Path › Pennsylvania › Mercyhurst University
Mercyhurst University
Erie, Pennsylvania · Private non-profit university · Training programs available:
Address: 501 E 38th St, Erie, PA 16546 · Phone: (814) 824-2000 · School website ↗ · Verify on College Scorecard ↗
Sanction on record, since lifted — Apr 2025 · Probation · American Physical Therapy Association; Nov 2025 · Accreditation Reaffirmed: Probation Removed.
Mercyhurst University is a private non-profit school in Erie, PA offering LPN, medical assistant, and culinary programs, accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Per the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, median graduate debt at Mercyhurst University is $25,305 and median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,452; campus-specific completion rate versus the state average of 66.2% is not reported.
Annual cost of attendance is not reported in federal data for Mercyhurst University; the school participates in Title IV federal aid, and about 31.3% of students receive Pell Grants.
What these trades pay once you're working
| Occupation | Starting (10th pct) | Median | Experienced (75th) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses | $51,500 | $63,940 | $72,810 |
| Medical assistants | $36,810 | $43,920 | $46,490 |
| Chefs and head cooks | $39,040 | $63,860 | $81,790 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics wages for everyone employed in the occupation in Pennsylvania (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants | Certificate, 1–2 years | 12 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | Associate degree | 4 | $37,396 | $28,236 | $20,000 |
| Culinary Arts and Related Services | Certificate, 300–899 hours | 1 | not reported | not reported | not reported |
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
Mercyhurst University is a private non-profit institution located in Erie, Pennsylvania, a small city setting. The school participates in federal financial aid (Title IV), meaning students may use FAFSA, federal loans, and Pell Grants to help pay for eligible programs. Mercyhurst holds regional accreditation through the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, along with program-specific accreditation from the National League for Nursing, Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Among its trade and career-focused offerings, the campus reports LPN / LVN programs (12 completers), medical assistant programs (4 completers), and a culinary & pastry program (1 completer), totaling 17 trade completers out of an undergraduate enrollment of 2,191.
Federal completion-rate data for this campus specifically is not reported; the statewide average completion rate is 66.2%, and how Mercyhurst compares is not reported for this campus in federal data. Median debt for graduates is $25,305, and median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,452, per federal data. Annual cost of attendance is not reported for this campus in federal data. About 31.3% of students receive Pell Grants, indicating a meaningful share of lower-income enrollment.
This campus may suit students pursuing shorter, licensure-focused trade programs such as LPN or medical assistant training within a larger university setting, though specific program lengths and schedule details are not reported here. Adult or career-changer fit cannot be confirmed beyond what is listed. Prospective students should verify accreditation status directly with the listed accreditors and review official outcome data through the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard before enrolling.
Questions students ask
What trade and career programs does this campus offer?
Mercyhurst University offers LPN / LVN programs (12 completers), medical assistant programs (4 completers), and a culinary & pastry program (1 completer).
Is this school accredited, and by whom?
Yes, Mercyhurst is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, with additional programmatic accreditation from the National League for Nursing, Commission for Nurse Education Accreditation and the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Can I use federal financial aid (FAFSA, Pell Grants) at this school?
Yes, Mercyhurst participates in Title IV federal aid programs, so eligible students can use FAFSA and Pell Grants.
What share of students finish their program here, and how does that compare to the state?
A campus-specific completion rate is not reported in federal data; the state average completion rate is 66.2%, and the comparison is not reported.
How much debt do graduates of this school typically carry?
Median debt for graduates is $25,305, according to the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
What do graduates of this school earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entry are $47,452, per federal Scorecard 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 for current tuition figures.
Is this a public, non-profit, or for-profit school, and why does that matter?
Mercyhurst University is a private non-profit institution, which typically means tuition revenue is reinvested into the school rather than distributed to shareholders.
How long do the programs here take to complete?
Specific program lengths are not reported in the available data; contact the school directly for program duration details.
How do I verify this school's accreditation and outcomes myself?
You can confirm accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and program-specific accreditors, and review federal outcome data at the College Scorecard link: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?213987.
Is this school a good fit for an adult changing careers?
The data does not specify program schedules or formats needed to assess fit for adult career-changers; contact the school to ask about flexible or accelerated options.
What license or certification will I need after finishing a program here?
Licensure requirements, such as for LPN or medical assistant roles, are not detailed in this data; contact the school or relevant state licensing board for specifics.
How do I contact the school or apply?
You can reach Mercyhurst University at (814) 824-2000 or visit https://www.mercyhurst.edu/ for admissions information.
Other trade and career schools in Erie, PA
- Great Lakes Institute of TechnologyErie, PA · 64% completion
- Erie Institute of Technology IncErie, PA · 67% completion
- Gannon UniversityErie, PA · university
- Institute of Medical and Business CareersErie, PA
- NPRC - ErieErie, PA
- Noe' Noonan School of CosmetologyErie, PA · career school
- Regional Career and Technical CenterErie, PA
- Community College of Allegheny CountyPittsburgh, PA · 24% completion
See all trade and career schools in Pennsylvania 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.