Mercy College of Health Sciences
Des Moines, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 99.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 70/100 · Fair Value
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) — the second-lowest debt load in this entire 30-school batch. 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, one of the most favorable debt-service ratios in this dataset. 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 |
| Median 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 sticker price at Mercy College of Health Sciences is $17,664/year. But sticker price isn't what most students pay. After grants, scholarships, and financial aid, the average student pays a net price of $26,924/year, or roughly $107,696 over four years.
That net price varies significantly by family income. The lowest-income families (under $30,000/year) pay an average of $24,171/year, while families earning over $110,000 pay $29,953/year.
The median graduate leaves with $14,745 in federal loan debt, translating to an estimated monthly payment of $156 on a standard 10-year repayment plan. Against median earnings of $62,234 ten years out, the debt-to-earnings ratio is 0.34 - well within manageable territory.
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. For the lowest-income students, $24k annually is a meaningful financial commitment for an institution with $17,664 tuition. 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. At $30k annually for an open-access nursing college in Des Moines, higher-income families are paying a substantial premium. 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 C+ grade reflects that the $30,500 debt load — while low relative to many nursing programs — is elevated relative to the program-level DTE ratio calculation. 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 | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 77.9% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 72.2% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 76.3% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
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. ACT 16-21 describes below-average to average academic preparation relative to national norms. 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.
Mercy College of Health Sciences (ROI 70) sits in the Fair Value tier. Named peers include Briar Cliff University, Buena Vista University, and Mercy College of Ohio — comparable small Midwestern health-focused institutions. Among Catholic health sciences colleges in the Midwest, Mercy Des Moines's debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.335 is a standout metric. The institution's fair-value score reflects genuine strength in debt management and reasonable earnings for its labor market context. The completion rate of 65.5% and the earnings premium of 0.253 are the primary constraints on scoring higher.
| 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. ACT mid-range is 16-21 composite, well below the national average, indicating a broad-access student body. 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 offers fair financial value, though the ROI depends heavily on individual circumstances. The net cost of $26,924 per year leads to $107,696 over four years, while graduates earn a median of $62,234 a decade out. The payback period of 9.1 years is about average - not bad, but not a standout either.
The data highlights several strengths: manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $14,745 is very manageable against $62,234 in annual earnings - well within the financial advisor rule of thumb that total debt should not exceed first-year salary.
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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.