Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. College of Saint Mary

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA with College of Saint Mary in Omaha, NE on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercy College of Health Sciences is larger than College of Saint Mary based on total student enrollment (869 students vs. 786 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mercy College of Health Sciences is located in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting); College of Saint Mary is in Omaha, NE (Large City setting).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. College of Saint Mary is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1; College of Saint Mary 8:1.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. College of Saint Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy College of Health Sciences or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($17,078 vs. $28,313).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Saint Mary are 9.2% lower than at Mercy College of Health Sciences ($9,084 vs. $10,000).
• College of Saint Mary is 38.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $6,846 more per year; $24,510.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.8% higher at College of Saint Mary than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $6,846 more per year; $24,510.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Saint Mary than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Saint Mary students is 127.7% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($18,847 vs. $8,276).

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. College of Saint Mary Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy College of Health Sciences or College of Saint Mary? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between College of Saint Mary and Mercy College of Health Sciences.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Mercy College of Health Sciences 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional; College of Saint Mary - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman College of Saint Mary students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than College of Saint Mary (44.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. 35.3% at College of Saint Mary.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. College of Saint Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy College of Health Sciences and College of Saint Mary? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• College of Saint Mary's six-year graduation rate is 30%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Mercy College of Health Sciences.
• Graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn a median of about $6,100 more per year than College of Saint Mary graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $41,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than College of Saint Mary graduates ($20,000 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than College of Saint Mary graduates ($206 vs. $268).
• More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Saint Mary students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 59%)

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.