Central State University vs. Mercyhurst College

Should I go to Central State University or Mercyhurst College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Central State University or Mercyhurst College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Central State University vs. Mercyhurst College comparison
Central State University Mercyhurst College College 3 College 4
Central State University
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Overview

Central State University Mercyhurst College
Location Wilberforce, OH Erie, PA
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 5,434 2,801
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1023
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website centralstate.edu mercyhurst.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Central State University Mercyhurst College
Tuition (In State) $5,176 $40,530
Tuition (Out of State) $7,176 $40,530
Room & Board $10,900 $14,025
Avg Net Price $10,194 $24,935
Avg Grant Aid $6,943 $32,418
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 95%

Admission

Central State University Mercyhurst College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,814 3,625
Admitted 3,388 2,920
Acceptance Rate 88.8% 80.6%
Enrolled % 18.1% 18.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.8 3.36
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 14/18
SAT Range 770/950
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

Central State University Mercyhurst College
Student to Faculty Ratio 21:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (7%)
  • General Studies (5%)

Outcomes

Central State University Mercyhurst College
Graduation Rate 24% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $27,200 $43,700
Making Student Loan Payments 16% 56%
Median Student Loan Debt $39,000 $26,698
Median Loan Payment $403 $276

Diversity

Central State University Mercyhurst College
% Men 30% 40%
% Women 70% 60%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 73%
% Black 95% 6%
% Hispanic 1% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 0% 11%
% Unknown Race 1% 4%

Students

Central State University Mercyhurst College
% In-State 55% 51%
% Out-of-State 36% 45%

Campus

Central State University Mercyhurst College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Central State University is larger than than Mercyhurst College based on total student enrollment (5,434 students vs. 2,801 students)

Central State University vs. Mercyhurst College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Central State University or Mercyhurst College?

  • Mercyhurst College is 683% more expensive to attend than Central State University for in-state tuition ($40,530.00 vs. $5,176.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 464.8% higher at Mercyhurst College than Central State University ($40,530.00 vs. $7,176.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central State University than Mercyhurst College ($10,194 vs. $24,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central State University are 28.7% lower than costs at Mercyhurst College ($10,900 vs. $14,025)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercyhurst College than Central State University (95% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst College students is 366.9% larger than aid received Central State University ($32,418 vs. $6,943)

Central State University vs. Mercyhurst College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Central State University or Mercyhurst College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercyhurst College or Central State University .

  • Accepted freshman Mercyhurst College students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Central State University (2.8)
  • Central State University has a higher acceptance rate (88.8%) than Mercyhurst College (80.6%)

Central State University vs. Mercyhurst College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Central State University or Mercyhurst College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mercyhurst College and Central State University.

  • The graduation rate at Mercyhurst College is higher than Central State University (68% vs. 24%)
  • Graduates from Mercyhurst College earn on average $16,500 more per year than Central State University graduates after ten years. ($43,700 vs. $27,200)
  • Mercyhurst College students graduate with a $12,302 lower median federal student loan debt than Central State University graduates. ($26,698 vs. $39,000)
  • Mercyhurst College graduates are paying $127 less per month on federal student loans than Central State University graduates. ($276 vs. $403)
  • More Mercyhurst College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Central State University students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 16%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/