Mercyhurst College vs. WCU

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

 Mercyhurst College WCU
Location Erie, PA West Chester, PA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 2,801 17,275
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #496
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercyhurst.edu wcupa.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mercyhurst College WCU
Tuition (In State) $40,530 $7,716
Tuition (Out of State) $40,530 $19,290
Room & Board $14,025 $14,228
Avg Net Price $24,935 $22,973
Avg Grant Aid $32,418 $5,443
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 64%

Admission

 Mercyhurst College WCU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,625 14,778
Admitted 2,920 12,982
Acceptance Rate 80.6% 87.8%
Enrolled % 18.7% 23.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.43
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/30
SAT Range 1080/1260
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 Mercyhurst College WCU
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Education (7%)
  • General Studies (5%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • English and Literature (9%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)

Outcomes

 Mercyhurst College WCU
Graduation Rate 68% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,700 $49,000
Making Student Loan Payments 56% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,698 $23,500
Median Loan Payment $276 $242

Diversity

 Mercyhurst College WCU
% Men 40% 39%
% Women 60% 61%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 73% 78%
% Black 6% 11%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 11% 0%
% Unknown Race 4% 0%

Students

 Mercyhurst College WCU
% In-State 51% 87%
% Out-of-State 45% 12%

Campus

 Mercyhurst College WCU
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

  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Mercyhurst College based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 2,801 students)

Mercyhurst College vs. WCU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercyhurst College or WCU?

  • Mercyhurst College is 425.3% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($40,530.00 vs. $7,716.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 110.1% higher at Mercyhurst College than West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($40,530.00 vs. $19,290.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at West Chester University of Pennsylvania than Mercyhurst College ($22,973 vs. $24,935)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercyhurst College are 1.4% lower than costs at West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($14,025 vs. $14,228)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercyhurst College than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (95% vs. 64%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst College students is 495.6% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($32,418 vs. $5,443)

Mercyhurst College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Mercyhurst College (3.36)
  • WCU has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Mercyhurst College (80.6%)

Mercyhurst College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercyhurst College or WCU? 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 WCU and Mercyhurst College.

  • The graduation rate at Mercyhurst College is the same as at West Chester University of Pennsylvania (68% vs. 68%)
  • Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $5,300 more per year than Mercyhurst College graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $43,700)
  • West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $3,198 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($23,500 vs. $26,698)
  • WCU graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Mercyhurst College graduates. ($242 vs. $276)
  • More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercyhurst College students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 56%)

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