Dominican vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences

Comparable Facts

Compare Dominican University in River Forest, IL with Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dominican University is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (3,803 students vs. 869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dominican University is located in River Forest, IL (Large Suburban setting); Mercy College of Health Sciences is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
• Dominican University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dominican University 12:1; Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1.

Dominican vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dominican or Mercy College of Health Sciences? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Dominican University than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($13,402 vs. $28,313).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 21.4% lower than at Dominican University ($10,000 vs. $12,716).
• Dominican University is 120.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $21,314 more per year; $38,978.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 120.7% higher at Dominican than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $21,314 more per year; $38,978.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dominican University than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dominican University students is 271.6% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($30,756 vs. $8,276).

Dominican vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dominican or Mercy College of Health Sciences? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mercy College of Health Sciences and Dominican.

• Incoming Dominican students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 21) as students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (21).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dominican University 880/1100.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dominican University 16/26; Mercy College of Health Sciences 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dominican - Test optional; Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dominican Aug 31, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Dominican students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than Dominican (90.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.1% at Dominican vs. 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences.

Dominican vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dominican and Mercy College of Health Sciences? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Dominican University earn a median of about $600 more per year than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,000 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have a $5,000 lower median loan debt than Dominican graduates ($20,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have an estimated $52 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Dominican graduates ($206 vs. $258).
• More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dominican students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.