Paul Smith's College vs. Mercyhurst University

Comparable Facts

Compare Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY with Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Mercyhurst University is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (2,632 students vs. 948 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is located in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting); Mercyhurst University is in Erie, PA (Midsize City setting).
• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercyhurst University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1; Mercyhurst University 14:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science are 2.1% lower than at Mercyhurst University ($14,236 vs. $14,540).
• Out-of-state tuition is 38.7% higher at Mercyhurst University than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $12,761 more per year; $45,770 vs. $33,009).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science as at Mercyhurst University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst University students is 47.8% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($33,949 vs. $22,973).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Paul Smith's College and Mercyhurst University.
• Enrolled first-year students at Mercyhurst University average a 3.36 high school GPA, 0.56 higher than at Paul Smith's College (2.8).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Paul Smith's College vs. 20.3% at Mercyhurst University.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates have a $1,698 lower median loan debt than Mercyhurst University graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,698).
• Among borrowers, Paul Smith's College graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercyhurst University graduates ($258 vs. $276).
• More Paul Smith's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercyhurst University students, three years after graduation (70% vs. 56%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.