Mercyhurst College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University

Should I go to Mercyhurst College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercyhurst College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University 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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Mercyhurst College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University comparison
Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University College 3 College 4
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Overview

 Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Location Erie, PA Keyser, WV
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 2,801 1,145
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercyhurst.edu potomacstatecollege.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Tuition (In State) $40,530 $4,752
Tuition (Out of State) $40,530 $12,120
Room & Board $14,025 $9,386
Avg Net Price $24,935 $7,822
Avg Grant Aid $32,418 $6,043
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 89%

Admission

 Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,625 -
Admitted 2,920 -
Acceptance Rate 80.6% Open
Enrolled % 18.7% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.06
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (7%)
  • General Studies (5%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (39%)
  • Agriculture (17%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Education (10%)

Outcomes

 Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
Graduation Rate 68% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,700 $50,600
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,698 $24,001
Median Loan Payment $276 $248

Diversity

 Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
% Men 40% 42%
% Women 60% 58%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 73% 69%
% Black 6% 23%
% Hispanic 2% 3%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 11% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 Mercyhurst College Potomac State College of West Virginia University
% In-State 51% 74%
% Out-of-State 45% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mercyhurst College is larger than than Potomac State College of West Virginia University based on total student enrollment (2,801 students vs. 1,145 students)

Mercyhurst College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercyhurst College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University?

  • Mercyhurst College is 752.9% more expensive to attend than Potomac State College of West Virginia University for in-state tuition ($40,530.00 vs. $4,752.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 234.4% higher at Mercyhurst College than Potomac State College of West Virginia University ($40,530.00 vs. $12,120.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Potomac State College of West Virginia University than Mercyhurst College ($7,822 vs. $24,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Potomac State College of West Virginia University are 49.4% lower than costs at Mercyhurst College ($9,386 vs. $14,025)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercyhurst College than Potomac State College of West Virginia University (95% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst College students is 436.5% larger than aid received Potomac State College of West Virginia University ($32,418 vs. $6,043)

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

  • Accepted freshman Mercyhurst College students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Potomac State College of West Virginia University (3.06)

Mercyhurst College vs. Potomac State College of West Virginia University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercyhurst College or Potomac State College of West Virginia University? 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 Potomac State College of West Virginia University and Mercyhurst College.

  • Graduates from Potomac State College of West Virginia University earn on average $6,900 more per year than Mercyhurst College graduates after ten years. ($50,600 vs. $43,700)
  • Potomac State College of West Virginia University students graduate with a $2,697 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($24,001 vs. $26,698)
  • Potomac State College of West Virginia University graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($248 vs. $276)
  • More Potomac State College of West Virginia University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercyhurst College students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 56%)

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