Samuel Merritt University

Degrees Offered

Founded in 1909, Samuel Merritt University (SMU) is a private, not-for-profit, health sciences institution with campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, and San Mateo, California. The University is regionally accredited by WSCUC and offers degrees in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and podiatric medicine. SMU offers four doctoral degree programs, including podiatric medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing practice. Select degrees and certificates are also available online.

The University's average graduation rate is 95 percent and student scores on licensure pass rates are 90 percent or above for first-time test takers in six programs (Fact Sheet, 2017). SMU is an affiliate of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Sutter Health, a care network of more than 50,000 doctors, employees, and volunteers in Northern California.

Programs and Curriculum

Our Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC) is one of the West’s most advanced healthcare simulation facilities, with state-of the-art medical equipment where SMU students, faculty and working health professionals act out scenarios. The Motion Analysis Research Center (MARC) is located in the SMU Health Education Center on the University’s Oakland campus. The center is equipped with the latest technology to study movement including a nine-camera, three-dimensional motion-capture system, force platforms, in-shoe and platform pressure mapping systems, electromyography, and other equipment to evaluate movement and motor function.

Faculty

Samuel Merritt University has a strong reputation for personalized instruction because of its outstanding faculty, who bring impressive academic and clinical backgrounds to life-long learning, and a deep commitment to students and to the community. SMU faculty are regularly published in peer-reviewed journals and books, many more are invited to serve on national boards or professional committees, and a growing number have been awarded research grants and other professional honors. Read more about faculty awards here.

Career Services and Placement

SMU Career Services

Our mission is to help students feel more confident about their job search. Therefore, we work with students to develop the materials and interview skills needed for professional development and job opportunities.

Career Services offers:

Individualized coaching • Group workshops • Training for resume and cover letter writing • Teaching effective job-search strategies • Demonstrating successful interviewing techniques • Conducting mock interviews • Assisting with building an effective social media presence

In addition, we work with employers to bring their job opportunities to you through our online job board.

To request an appointment to discuss any of the items above click below to fill out our appointment request. Someone will get back to you in 48 hours or less.

ADMISSIONS

Counseling Appointments in Oakland, Sacramento and San Mateo

In person or phone counseling appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. However, we strongly encourage prospective students to attend an information session or webinar first as the most common questions are answered in that format. A schedule of upcoming information sessions is listed on the admissions pages for each program. To schedule a counseling appointment, please call or email the Campus Service Center at: (510) 869-1550
admission@samuelmerritt.edu

Please specify at which campus you wish to have your counseling appointment. Counseling appointments will last approximately 30-60 minutes with the primary purpose being to review transcripts for prerequisites. Please bring unofficial transcripts with you to the appointment. Because of the limited length of the appointment, arriving on time is important. Prospective students who arrive late may need to reschedule or have the length of their appointment reduced.

STUDENTS ORGANIZATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

The University strives to reflect the community it serves by recruiting students with a variety of ethnic, cultural, and economic backgrounds. Most Samuel Merritt University graduates' passing scores on licensure and certification exams exceed state and national rates. Due to the University’s reputation for academic and clinical excellence, its graduates are heavily recruited, and have one of the highest rates of employment within one year of graduation.

Tuition & Aid

Tuition varies by program. Please see the following links for helpful details on tuition, fees and housing.

Tuition: http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/tuition
Housing: https://www.samuelmerritt.edu/students/housing

Financial Aid

Samuel Merritt University strives to meet the institutionally demonstrated need of each student. The financial aid office is able to provide over 98% of its students with the proper amount of financial aid to cover the cost of tuition, fees and living expenses.

Campus and Location

Founded in 1909, Samuel Merritt University (SMU) is a private, not-for-profit, health sciences institution with campuses in Oakland, Sacramento, and San Mateo, California. The University is regionally accredited by WSCUC and offers degrees in nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant, and podiatric medicine. SMU offers four doctoral degree programs, including podiatric medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing practice. Select degrees and certificates are also available online.

The University's average graduation rate is 95 percent and student scores on licensure pass rates are 90 percent or above for first-time test takers in six programs (Fact Sheet, 2017). SMU is an affiliate of Alta Bates Summit Medical Center and Sutter Health, a care network of more than 50,000 doctors, employees, and volunteers in Northern California.

Facilities

Our Health Sciences Simulation Center (HSSC) is one of the West’s most advanced healthcare simulation facilities, with state-of the-art medical equipment where SMU students, faculty and working health professionals act out scenarios. The Motion Analysis Research Center (MARC) is located in the SMU Health Education Center on the University’s Oakland campus. The center is equipped with the latest technology to study movement including a nine-camera, three-dimensional motion-capture system, force platforms, in-shoe and platform pressure mapping systems, electromyography, and other equipment to evaluate movement and motor function.