Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 99.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 70/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Mercy College of Health Sciences scores 70 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. The institution is a small Catholic health sciences college in Des Moines, Iowa with two programs in Scorecard: Registered Nursing (286 graduates, C+, $66,309 year-one) and Health and Medical Administrative Services (29 graduates, no grade). The profile reflects a nursing-focused institution where the defining financial characteristic is very low debt: $14,745 median debt (sub-score 92, raw 0.335). Six-year earnings are $44,000, payback period is 9.1 years (sub-score 67), and the completion rate is 65.5% (sub-score 70). The repayment rate of 81.9% (sub-score 76) is solid. Net price is $26,924 - meaningfully above the $17,664 tuition figure, indicating that additional fees and room and board push total net price above base tuition. The earnings premium sub-score of 55 (raw 0.253) is modest - the 9.1-year payback and the DTE ratio of 0.335 both benefit significantly from the low debt figure. Nursing graduates at $66k year-one with $14,745 median debt have a monthly payment of roughly $156 - a 2.8% monthly income burden. The institution's Catholic Sisters of Mercy mission and Des Moines healthcare market define its context.
Mercy College of Health Sciences
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $17,664/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $17,664/yr |
| Average net price | $26,924/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $107,696 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $62,234 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $44,000 |
| Median debt at graduation | $14,745 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $156 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.1 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 65.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 867 |
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: $17,664/year, which covers tuition and fees only. The net price counts books, supplies, and average living costs on top of tuition and fees, then subtracts grants and scholarships. For the average student here it comes to $26,924/year, or roughly $107,696 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 $24,171/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,953/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $14,745, which works out to about $156 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($44,000) and comes to 0.34, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
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 | $24,171 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $27,533 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $29,193 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $26,615 |
| $110,001+ | $29,953 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $24,171 per year at Mercy Health Sciences - only slightly below the $26,924 average. The $14,745 median debt remains a key advantage: even at $24k annual net price, graduates who complete leave with modest debt relative to a $66k nursing salary. The 65.5% completion rate means low-income students face real attrition risk.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $29,193 - slightly above the average net price, a pattern suggesting this income range receives less institutional aid. The 75001-110000 bracket pays $26,615, below the 48001-75000 figure in a non-monotonic pattern. At $27-29k annually, middle-income families are paying near-sticker relative to tuition plus fees. For nursing students, the low debt outcome and $66k year-one salary make this defensible. For students who do not complete, the investment is a financial loss.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
The 110001-plus bracket pays $29,953 - the highest on the income schedule. Four-year cost for higher-income families approaches $120,000. The financial case rests on the combination of the nursing credential, the low debt outcome, and the Des Moines healthcare market. Families in this income range with students pursuing nursing have a justifiable investment thesis; those in health administration should verify program-level debt and earnings data before enrolling.
Earnings by Major
Top 2 most popular majors at Mercy College of Health Sciences with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $71,148 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $50,009 | - |
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
Registered Nursing (286 graduates) is the institution's primary program: $66,309 year-one, $71,148 at year four, C+ grade, debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.460 against $30,500 median debt. The institution-level median debt of $14,745 is substantially lower than the $30,500 program-level figure, suggesting significant variation across students. Monthly payments on $30,500 run roughly $323. Against a $66k first-year salary in Des Moines's healthcare market, this is manageable at roughly 6% of monthly gross income.
Health and Medical Administrative Services
Health and Medical Administrative Services (29 graduates) reports $50,009 at year four - no year-one earnings or debt data is available in Scorecard. No ROI grade can be calculated. At $50k four-year earnings, health administration graduates at Mercy Health Sciences enter Des Moines's hospital and clinic management sector at wages above the institutional median. Without debt data, the ROI grade cannot be assigned, but the four-year earnings figure is consistent with a viable career trajectory.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.9% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.9% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Mercy College of Health Sciences’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 | 99.7% |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 16-21 |
| Enrollment | 867 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 33.9% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,328 |
At 99.7%, Mercy Health Sciences is effectively open enrollment. The institution does not screen academically at admission - academic requirements within the nursing program itself are the operative filter. Students who complete the nursing credential leave with $14,745 in median debt and $66k in first-year earnings. The relevant enrollment question is not admission but completion: at 65.5%, roughly one-third of students do not complete their credential.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercy College of Health Sciences (this school) | 70 | $26,924 | $62,234 |
| Mercy College of Ohio | 73 | $17,989 | $65,409 |
| Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University | 61 | $18,552 | $59,419 |
| King University | 57 | $22,347 | $59,831 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Buena Vista University | 39 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
Who Thrives Here
Mercy College of Health Sciences admits 99.7% of applicants - functionally open enrollment. SAT ranges are not reported. Enrollment is 867. The Pell grant rate of 33.9% reflects meaningful lower-income student representation. Students at Mercy Health Sciences are primarily choosing a nursing or health administration credential in Des Moines's healthcare market. The institution is small, health-focused, and Catholic in mission. Students who need flexibility, low debt, and clear healthcare career placement are the institutional fit.
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $26,924 a year after aid ($107,696 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $62,234 a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $14,745 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $44,000 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34, 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.
Mercy College of Health Sciences: Common Questions
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Mercy College of Health Sciences is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 70/100 on our ROI scale. At $26,924 a year after aid ($107,696 over four years) against $62,234 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 9.1 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Mercy College of Health Sciences 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 $26,924 a year, or roughly $107,696 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $62,234 ten years after enrolling, roughly $20,434 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences?
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 9.1 years for Mercy College of Health Sciences. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $14,745, against average earnings of $44,000 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.34. 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences?
The six-year graduation rate is 65.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (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.