Gwynedd Mercy University
Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 89.6% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 66/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Gwynedd Mercy University in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania - northwest of Philadelphia - scores ROI 66 (Fair Value) with 1,067 undergraduates. Registered Nursing dominates with 214 graduates per year, accounting for the majority of the school's program output. Average 6-year earnings reach $48,000 and median 10-year earnings hit $67,145, boosted significantly by the nursing cohort. The completion rate of 56.9% is lower than expected given the school's health sciences concentration. With $27,483 average net price and a Catholic mission, Gwynedd Mercy serves primarily middle-income students in the Philadelphia suburbs.
Gwynedd Mercy University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,122/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,122/yr |
| Average net price | $27,483/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $109,932 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $67,145 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 7.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 56.9% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,067 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $40,122/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $27,483/year, or roughly $109,932 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $21,995/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $32,456/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,000, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,000) and comes to 0.52, under 1.0, meaning median debt is less than a full year of those earnings.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $21,995 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $20,617 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $22,269 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $27,992 |
| $110,001+ | $32,456 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $21,995 per year. Over four years that is roughly $87,980. For a nursing student earning $82,372 at year one, the math works. For a psychology student earning $38,046 at year one, the debt burden of $31,000 against $87,980 in educational costs creates serious financial pressure.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30,001-48,000 bracket pays $20,617 - slightly below the lowest tier, reflecting some additional aid for lower-middle-income families. The 48,001-75,000 bracket rises to $22,269, and the 75,001-110,000 bracket jumps to $27,992. The cost slope from $48k to $110k income is a $7,700 increase.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $32,456 per year. Over four years that is roughly $129,824. At this cost level and with median 10-year earnings of $67,145, the lifetime ROI is acceptable but not strong for non-nursing graduates. High-income families specifically targeting the Philadelphia nursing market will see reasonable returns; general liberal arts families will not.
Earnings by Major
Top 6 most popular majors at Gwynedd Mercy University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $99,913 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,288 | C+ |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $90,618 | B |
| Teacher Education | $45,799 | C |
| Psychology | $50,848 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,898 | C+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing is Gwynedd Mercy's defining program with 214 graduates per year - by far the largest cohort. Median 1-year earnings of $82,372 reflect the Philadelphia metropolitan area's hospital premium. CHOP, Penn Medicine, Jefferson, and Main Line Health are all major employers within commuting distance. The 4-year median of $99,913 approaches the six-figure mark, tracking experienced RN and early APRN salary territory. Gwynedd Mercy nursing delivers.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic produces 32 graduates per year with median 1-year earnings of $76,087 and 4-year earnings of $90,618 - near-nursing levels for a smaller program. The 0.373 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade B) with $28,399 median debt is clean. This program likely includes diagnostic imaging and similar clinical tracks that enjoy the same Philadelphia-area labor demand as nursing. The high earnings relative to the program size suggest selective placement and strong occupational demand.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration has 42 graduates per year. Median 1-year earnings of $55,645 and 4-year earnings of $67,288 are above the school median, reflecting business roles in the Philadelphia suburbs - corporate offices, healthcare administration, and financial services. The 0.534 debt-to-earnings ratio (ROI grade C+) with $29,687 median debt is on the edge of comfortable.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 69.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 73.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 68.1% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 78.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Gwynedd Mercy University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 89.6% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 493-588 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 530-598 |
| Enrollment | 1,067 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 24.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,592 |
Gwynedd Mercy admits 89.6% of applicants. SAT Math 25th-75th percentile is 493-588; SAT Reading 530-598. The admission profile is accessible. The near-open admission stance means the completion rate of 56.9% is doing more work than selectivity in predicting outcomes.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Gwynedd Mercy's nursing program concentration is its ROI story - without that anchor, the school's Fair Value rating would be harder to defend at its net price.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gwynedd Mercy University (this school) | 66 | $27,483 | $67,145 |
| Mount Saint Mary College | 67 | $25,522 | $67,705 |
| College of Saint Benedict | 66 | $26,640 | $63,260 |
| Baker University | 65 | $25,301 | $63,855 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
Gwynedd Mercy fits students who want a small, health-focused Catholic environment in the Philadelphia corridor. SAT Math 493-588, SAT Reading 530-598 (ACT not reported). With 24.9% Pell recipients, the school is accessible but primarily serves non-Pell families. Nursing students are the clearest fit: 214 graduates per year into a tight Philadelphia healthcare labor market. Students considering non-health programs - business, education, psychology - should weigh the 56.9% completion rate and weaker program-level earnings data before committing to the full net price.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Gwynedd Mercy University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $27,483 a year after aid ($109,932 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $67,145 a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Median debt of $25,000 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Gwynedd Mercy University: Common Questions
Is Gwynedd Mercy University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Gwynedd Mercy University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 66/100 on our ROI scale. At $27,483 a year after aid ($109,932 over four years) against $67,145 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 7.8 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Gwynedd Mercy University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $27,483 a year, or roughly $109,932 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Gwynedd Mercy University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $67,145 ten years after enrolling, roughly $25,345 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Gwynedd Mercy University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 7.8 years for Gwynedd Mercy University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Gwynedd Mercy University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,000, against average earnings of $48,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.52. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Gwynedd Mercy University?
The six-year graduation rate is 56.9%. The national average for four-year schools is 64% (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.