Over 25 Years of Forming Catholic Mental Health Professionals: Our 2025–26 Impact Report
Download the full PDF Impact Report here →
For more than 25 years, Divine Mercy University has formed mental health professionals who unite rigorous clinical training with a Catholic understanding of the human person. This year’s Impact Report tells the story of that mission in numbers, in the words of our donors and bishops, and in the lives of the alumni now serving communities on six continents.
By the Numbers
- 1,200+ alumni serving in clinics, schools, dioceses, and communities nationally and internationally
- 300+ counseling students currently enrolled
- $19.5 million in scholarships awarded since 1999
- 31 countries represented in our student body
- 156 degrees awarded in 2025–2026
A Message from Our President
“Through this work, DMU has formed more than 1,200 alumni who now serve in clinics, schools, dioceses, and communities across the country. They accompany individuals through anxiety, trauma, addiction, grief, and spiritual challenges with both professional excellence and compassion.” — Fr. Charles Sikorsky, LC, JD, JCL, President, Divine Mercy University
A Year of National and Global Impact
This past year, DMU’s mission reached further than ever before:
- A Catholic voice at the Supreme Court. DMU joined Alliance Defending Freedom and a coalition of 25 Catholic organizations in the Chiles v. Salazar case, helping present a Catholic understanding of counseling and conscience protections. In an 8–1 decision, the Court sided with counselor Kaley Chiles, ruling that laws restricting what therapists can discuss with clients must meet the Constitution’s toughest free-speech standard — a major win for client-directed, faith-consistent counseling.
- Harvard Medical School. DMU co-sponsored the Sixth Global Summit on Spirituality, Religion and Mental Health alongside the American Psychological Association and World Psychiatric Association — drawing 360+ registrants from 18 countries.
- A new academic frontier in Barcelona. DMU brought its Catholic Christian Meta-Model of the Person to the II International Congress of Christian Anthropology and Mental Health Sciences in Spain, connecting with scholars and clinicians from across Europe.
- Responding to disaster and crisis. Through the Center for Trauma and Resiliency Studies, DMU teams provided trauma-informed care to wildfire survivors in Los Angeles, communities recovering from hurricanes in Jamaica, and professionals across Kenya.
- Filling a critical gap in counselor education. DMU’s new online Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision — addressing a nationwide shortage of counselor educators — has grown to more than 50 doctoral students in just 18 months.
What Our Partners Are Saying
“We have seen first-hand the quality and compassion DMU graduates bring to mental health care.” — Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington
“The contribution that Divine Mercy University is making to the Church is irreplaceable.” — Monsignor James Shea, President of the University of Mary
Where Your Support Goes
Every gift to DMU fuels scholarships, program expansion, and the formation of clinicians who bring Christ-centered care into parishes, hospitals, military facilities, and communities around the world.
Operating Revenue, 2024–2025 ($14.4M total):
- Tuition and Fees: 69.38%
- Private Gifts and Grants: 29.19%
- Other Revenue: 1.43%
Operating Expenses, 2024–2025 ($14.35M total):
- Instruction / Academic Support: 50.10%
- Financial Aid: 16.55%
- Student Services: 14.76%
- Management and General: 11.19%
- Fundraising: 5.30%
- Research / Other Programs: 2.09%
Priority Initiatives This Year
- Expansion of the Master’s in Counseling program
- Continued support for the Bishop Loverde Scholarship Fund
- Increased formation opportunities for priests and religious
This is a summary of our full 2025–26 Impact Report. Download the complete PDF for the full history of DMU, alumni spotlights, program-by-program breakdowns, and complete financials. Thank you for being part of our story and our impact.
