Mercy College Seats Strong Nursing Freshman Class

Mercy College continues to fulfill its mission of educating and producing the next generation of skilled, compassionate nurses as demonstrated by the College’s 2021 incoming nursing cohort. The select group of students represent the next generation of nurses dedicated to serving their communities even in challenging times. With the COVID-19 pandemic showcasing a greater demand for experienced nurses, Mercy College is committed to ensuring nursing students graduate fully prepared to meet the unique health care challenges of today.

The fall 2021 nursing cohort is made up of students primarily from the New York area, many of which were from the communities hardest hit by COVID-19. Of the class 73% of the students are from Westchester County or one of New York City’s five boroughs. More specifically, 24% of the students are from Westchester, 32% are from the Bronx, 10% are from Manhattan, and 7% are from Queens or Brooklyn.

“The 2021 nursing cohort demonstrates Mercy’s commitment to educating health care professionals during a time when they are in most demand in our area,” said Adam Castro, Mercy College’s vice president for enrollment management. “These students, even though faced with the challenges of pandemic, are showing up to answer a call to serve their communities.”

The incoming nursing students are accomplished academically — with 88% earning a high school GPA of 85 or above and 44% earning a high school GPA of 90 or above. They are also diverse — with 87% students of color, including 50% Hispanic/Latino and 29% Black.

“Despite challenges faced during the pandemic, Mercy has seated an exemplary incoming nursing class motivated to improving the health of our communities,” said Deborah Hunt, associate dean of nursing at Mercy College. “This is a testament to Mercy’s reputation for providing nursing students with a high-quality education so that they enter into the workforce confident health care professionals.”

Mercy College’s traditional four-year nursing program is designed to prepare students for licensure and professional nursing practice. Classes are taught by experienced, dedicated faculty who hold clinical certifications and expertise in designated specialties. Clinical learning experiences are conducted in both a state-of-the-art simulation laboratory and at local healthcare facilities. Upon successful completion of Mercy’s traditional four-year nursing program, students earn a bachelor’s degree and are eligible to take the NCLEX-RN licensure exam that certifies them as registered nurses.