Academic and Healthcare Partnerships | Samuel Merritt University

Academic and Healthcare Partnerships

Samuel Merritt University collaborates with leading academic and healthcare organizations to expand access to healthcare education. Through our reciprocal agreements, students benefit from exclusive tuition discounts and streamlined admission pathways.

Explore Partners Program Details

Partnerships Built for Success

Our partnership network creates a seamless bridge between organizations, offering unique financial and academic advantages for students at every stage.

Partnership Benefits for Students

Priority admission consideration for select pathways
Reserved seats in participating programs
Guaranteed interviews for qualified applicants where available
Waived application fees for many partner pathways
Concurrent enrollment options for eligible students

Our Partners

Academic Partners

California State University, East Bay

CSU East Bay post-bacc pre-health students have priority pathways into four SMU graduate programs - DPM, ELMSN, MBS, and MFT - with priority consideration built into every application.

4 Program Pathways Priority Consideration

View Partnership Details

Chaminade University of Honolulu

Chaminade students admitted to SMU's DPM or OTD programs receive a guaranteed admissions interview, a peer mentor, and scholarship support written into the agreement.

Application Fee Waived Guaranteed Admission Interviews

View Partnership Details

Mission College

Mission College ADN graduates who are licensed RNs can step directly into SMU's RN-BSN through our Concurrent Enrollment Pathway - with a tuition discount and no application fee.

Flat Program Fee Concurrent Enrollment Pathway

View Partnership Details

San Francisco State University

SFSU post-bacc pre-health certificate students have direct entry into select SMU programs and priority access to others - with no application fee across all pathways.

Application Fee Waived Direct Entry Pathways

View Partnership Details

University of California Davis

UC Davis pre-health and post-bacc students have reserved seats across multiple SMU graduate health programs, with guaranteed interviews beyond the seat cap and no application fee.

Reserved Seats Across Programs Direct Entry Pathways

View Partnership Details

Healthcare Organizations

American Health Education

Ready to take your next step beyond paramedicine? As an AHE-trained professional, you have a reserved pathway into SMU nursing and health sciences programs, with your employer benefit matched dollar for dollar.

Application Fee Waived Education Benefit Matching

View Partnership Details

Native American Health Center

NAHC staff have direct access to more than ten SMU health professions programs - from nursing and occupational therapy to social work and health administration. Eligible Seven Generations Scholarship recipients receive a dollar-for-dollar match from SMU.

Application Fee Waived 7 Generations Scholarship Matching

View Partnership Details

Sutter Health

Advancing healthcare careers for Sutter Health employees through exclusive tuition benefits and flexible degree programs.

Tuition Reduction Benefit Tuition Reimbursement Support

View Partnership Details

Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente employees and KP Scholars Academy members have access to dedicated pathways into SMU's healthcare programs. Full partnership details and benefits coming soon — contact us to learn more.

KP Scholars Pathway Healthcare Employer Partnership

View Partnership Details

Interested in partnering with SMU?

We are always looking to expand our network with organizations that share our commitment to healthcare excellence and student success.

Contact Director of Business Development,
Academic & Healthcare Partnerships Schedule a Meeting