Mount Mercy College vs. St. Kate's

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA with St Catherine University in Saint Paul, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

St Catherine University is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (3,651 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting); St Catherine University is in Saint Paul, MN (Large City setting).
• Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St Catherine University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Mercy University 14:1; St Catherine University 9:1.

Mount Mercy College vs. St. Kate's Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or St. Kate's? 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 St Catherine University than Mount Mercy College ($20,918 vs. $24,347).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 4.8% lower than at St Catherine University ($11,600 vs. $12,188).
• St Catherine University is 25.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $10,576 more per year; $51,454.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 25.9% higher at St. Kate's than at Mount Mercy University (about $10,576 more per year; $51,454.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University as at St Catherine University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St Catherine University students is 30.4% larger than aid received by Mount Mercy University students ($40,092 vs. $30,735).

Mount Mercy College vs. St. Kate's Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Mercy College or St. Kate's? 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 St. Kate's and Mount Mercy College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSt Catherine University 850/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSt Catherine University 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Mercy College - Test optional; St. Kate's - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Kate's students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.62) than students at Mount Mercy College (3.5).
• St. Kate's has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Mount Mercy College (82.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at Mount Mercy College vs. 18.8% at St. Kate's.

Mount Mercy College vs. St. Kate's Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Mercy College and St. Kate's? 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).

• St Catherine University's six-year graduation rate (65%) is higher than Mount Mercy University's (60%).
• Graduates from St Catherine University earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,100 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $5,750 lower median loan debt than St. Kate's graduates ($22,250 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Kate's graduates ($230 vs. $289).
• More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Kate's students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 65%)

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.