Mercyhurst University
Erie, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 81.0% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 35/100 · Below Benchmark
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania posts a Below Benchmark ROI score of 35, weighed down by the gap between its private-college sticker price and the earnings its graduates actually achieve. Tuition lists at $45,770, but heavy aid drops net price to $19,444 - a $26,000 discount that materially changes the value calculation. Four-year cost still totals $77,776. The trouble is on the outcomes side: average earnings six years out are just $34,300, climbing to a median $47,452 by year ten. Payback period stretches to 17.5 years, and the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.738 means graduates owe nearly three-quarters of their annual income. Median debt of $25,305 isn't extreme, but it's painful relative to those earnings. The bright spot is a 60.2% completion rate (above the regional-private average) and a healthy intelligence-studies program that pulls strong career earnings. As of 2024-2025 Scorecard data, Mercyhurst's value proposition depends heavily on major selection - intelligence and health sciences pay back; the dominant liberal arts and creative programs do not.
How Mercyhurst University scores under our methodology
These are the College Scorecard measures that pull this school's CampusROI score down. They describe the published figures, not the quality of the education, and they are our reading of the data. Check them against your own aid offer and intended major.
- ROI Score35/100 - Below Benchmark tier of our scale (below 45). For context, 38% of the schools we score reach 60 or higher.
- Payback period17.5 years - The median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
Mercyhurst University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $45,770/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $45,770/yr |
| Average net price | $19,444/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $77,776 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $47,452 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $34,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,305 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $268 |
| Estimated payback period | 17.5 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 60.2% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 2,191 |
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: $45,770/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $19,444/year, or roughly $77,776 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 $22,626/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $16,748/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $25,305, which works out to about $268 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($34,300) and comes to 0.74, 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 | $22,626 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $22,429 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,197 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,665 |
| $110,001+ | $16,748 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families under $30,000 pay $22,626 net - higher than middle-income families pay at this school, an inverted pattern worth flagging. Four-year cost approaches $91,000. Against $34,300 average six-year earnings, the math is harsh for Pell-eligible students. Mercyhurst's aid formula does not appear to favor the lowest-income tier; this is a real concern for working-class families.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families ($48,001-$75,000) actually get the best deal at $17,197 - notably below both lower- and higher-income brackets. Four-year cost around $69,000. For students entering Mercyhurst's stronger programs (intelligence studies, health sciences), the math can work; for typical majors it remains difficult given the modest earnings profile.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Higher-income families ($110,001+) pay $16,748 - the lowest bracket on the table, again confirming an inverted aid pattern where low-income families pay more than wealthier ones. Four-year cost around $67,000. Even at this price, the financial case depends on program choice. Full-pay families should pressure-test the major's earnings outlook before committing.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Mercyhurst University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $86,597 | C+ |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,902 | C |
| Biology | $65,000 | D |
| Special Education and Teaching | $49,638 | C |
| Design and Applied Arts | $45,411 | D |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $83,812 | B+ |
| Psychology | $43,694 | D |
| Security Science and Technology | $55,665 | - |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $61,066 | D |
| Finance and Financial Management | $63,128 | 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.
Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations
Mercyhurst's flagship program: intelligence studies graduates 59 students annually with first-year earnings of $52,211 climbing to $86,597 by year four - a remarkable doubling reflecting placements in federal intelligence agencies, defense contractors, and private intelligence firms. Median debt of $25,625 produces a 0.491 debt-to-earnings ratio and C+ ROI grade.
Criminal Justice and Corrections
Criminal Justice graduates 30 students annually with first-year earnings of $38,557. Earnings grow to $54,902 by year four. Median debt of $26,000 against these earnings yields a 0.674 ratio and C grade.
Special Education and Teaching
Special Education graduates 27 students annually with first-year earnings of $46,636 - above average for teaching. Wages stagnate to $49,638 by year four reflecting K-12 pay-scale flatness. Median debt of $27,000 yields 0.579 ratio and C grade.
Biology
Biology graduates 28 students annually with first-year earnings of $29,167 against $27,000 median debt - a 0.926 debt-to-earnings ratio and D ROI grade. Earnings recover to $65,000 by year four, suggesting many graduates ultimately enter health professions or graduate school. Strongly consider pre-health certainty before enrolling.
Design and Applied Arts
Design graduates 23 students annually with first-year earnings of $28,267 against $27,000 debt, a 0.955 ratio. ROI grade D. Earnings improve to $45,411 by year four but never reach a level that justifies the debt. Design-bound students should seek lower-cost programs or strong portfolio-driven freelance pathways.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 65.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 70.6% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 62.2% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Mercyhurst 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 | 81.0% |
| Enrollment | 2,191 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 31.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $7,193 |
Mercyhurst admits 81.0% of applicants - effectively non-selective at the academic-screening level. SAT and ACT data are not reported, which reduces transparency for prospective students.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercyhurst University (this school) | 35 | $19,444 | $47,452 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
| Husson University | 34 | $21,005 | $45,025 |
| Flagler College | 30 | $30,525 | $49,483 |
| United Talmudical Seminary | 26 | $6,640 | $25,113 |
Who Thrives Here
Mercyhurst fits students who specifically want its intelligence studies, criminal justice, or health sciences programs and value a Catholic-affiliated residential experience in Erie. Enrollment of 2,191 is a moderate small-college scale. Pell rate of 31.3% is moderate. The data is harsh on liberal arts and creative majors here - design, biology, psychology, and communications all earn D ROI grades. Students drawn to those fields should weigh the 17.5-year payback period heavily before committing.
The Verdict: Below Benchmark Under Our Scoring
Under our methodology, Mercyhurst University scores 35/100, which falls in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At a net price of $19,444 per year, with typical graduate earnings of $47,452 ten years after entry, we estimate the payback period at about 17.5 years. In our view that makes the financial case a hard one to make on the numbers alone, but those numbers are averages: your major, your aid package and what you want from a degree all change the picture, so run your own numbers before you commit.
What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost, a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74 (median across the schools we score: 0.61), a three-year loan repayment rate of 70.6% (median across the schools we score: 73.6%), a long payback period.
Median debt of $25,305 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $34,300 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. Your major - and how much you borrow - really matters.
Mercyhurst University: Common Questions
Is Mercyhurst University worth it?
In our view, the financial case is a hard one to make on the numbers alone. Mercyhurst University scores 35/100 on our ROI scale, in the Below Benchmark tier (below 45). At $19,444 a year after aid against $47,452 in typical earnings ten years out, we estimate the payback period at about 17.5 years. Your major and aid package can change the picture, so run your own numbers.
How much does Mercyhurst 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 $19,444 a year, or roughly $77,776 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 Mercyhurst University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $47,452 ten years after enrolling, roughly $5,652 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 Mercyhurst 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 17.5 years for Mercyhurst University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Mercyhurst University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $25,305, against average earnings of $34,300 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.74. That is under 1.0 (a full year of those earnings); the median across the schools we score is about 0.61. How much you borrow really matters.
What is the graduation rate at Mercyhurst University?
The six-year graduation rate is 60.2%. 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.