Mount Mercy College vs. Kansas City Art Institute

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA with Kansas City Art Institute in Kansas City, MO on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Mercy University is larger than Kansas City Art Institute based on total student enrollment (1,417 students vs. 813 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting); Kansas City Art Institute is in Kansas City, MO (Large City setting).
• Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Kansas City Art Institute is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Mercy University 14:1; Kansas City Art Institute 10:1.

Mount Mercy College vs. Kansas City Art Institute Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or Kansas City Art Institute? 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 Mount Mercy University than Kansas City Art Institute ($24,347 vs. $27,650).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 15% lower than at Kansas City Art Institute ($11,600 vs. $13,651).
• Kansas City Art Institute is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $3,672 more per year; $44,550.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at Kansas City Art Institute than at Mount Mercy University (about $3,672 more per year; $44,550.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University as at Kansas City Art Institute (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 3.3% larger than aid received by Kansas City Art Institute students ($30,735 vs. $29,760).

Mount Mercy College vs. Kansas City Art Institute Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Mercy College or Kansas City Art Institute? 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 Kansas City Art Institute and Mount Mercy College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Mercy College - Test optional; Kansas City Art Institute - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Kansas City Art Institute (3.32).
• Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than Kansas City Art Institute (54.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at Mount Mercy College vs. 35.1% at Kansas City Art Institute.

Mount Mercy College vs. Kansas City Art Institute Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Mercy College and Kansas City Art Institute? 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.

• Kansas City Art Institute's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Mount Mercy University's (60%).
• Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn a median of about $13,000 more per year than Kansas City Art Institute graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $32,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Kansas City Art Institute graduates ($22,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Kansas City Art Institute graduates ($230 vs. $279).
• More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kansas City Art Institute students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 62%)

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.