Misericordia University
Dallas, Pennsylvania · Private Nonprofit · 70.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 57/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Misericordia University is a small private Catholic health-sciences-focused college in Dallas, Pennsylvania - not to be confused with Dallas, Texas. With 1,672 students and a 70.9% admission rate, it is broadly accessible. The ROI score of 57 (Below Average Value) reflects a significant problem: the average net price is $37,485 per year, and that figure barely varies by income - families across all income bands pay $36,000-$38,000. That is a red flag. Median earnings after six years sit at $45,100, and payback clocks at 9.9 years. Completion at 71.7% is above average for schools in this tier. The bright spot is the health programs cluster - Nursing graduates (98 per year) earn $78,428 one year out, and Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment graduates (34 per year) earn $65,521. The school's debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.598 means the typical graduate carries debt close to 60% of annual earnings.
Misericordia University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,370/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,370/yr |
| Average net price | $37,485/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $149,940 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $64,313 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $45,100 |
| Median debt at graduation | $26,973 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $286 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.9 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 71.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,672 |
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: $40,370/year. Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $37,485/year, or roughly $149,940 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 $36,759/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $37,665/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $26,973 in federal loans, which works out to about $286 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $64,313 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.60, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
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 | $36,759 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $37,554 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $36,848 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $37,879 |
| $110,001+ | $37,665 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $36,759/year. This is a serious problem. A low-income family financing four years at Misericordia faces approximately $147,000 in total costs, with most of that not covered by aid. For reference, this is more expensive than many public flagship universities for out-of-state students. If a low-income student is set on Misericordia's nursing program, the calculation may still pencil out - but they need to model the debt carefully.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 30-48k bracket pays $37,554/year and the 48-75k bracket pays $36,848/year - essentially no change. The slope from low income to middle income is nearly flat. This means the school's aid model does not differentiate meaningfully between low-income and moderate-income families, which is unusual and worth scrutinizing. The 75-110k bracket pays $37,879/year - still essentially flat. Families across a wide income range pay within $1,000 of each other annually.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $37,665/year - nearly identical to every other income bracket. The effectively flat price structure means financial aid at Misericordia functions more as an enrollment discount than as income-based aid. High-income families pay about the same as low-income ones, which means the school relies heavily on merit aid that caps at similar levels. With a 9.9-year payback period and median earnings of $45,100 at six years, high-income families paying full net price should carefully model program-specific outcomes.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Misericordia University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $88,523 | B+ |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $68,418 | B |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $72,833 | C |
| Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment | $79,580 | B |
| Psychology | $72,572 | B+ |
| Biology | $78,107 | B+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $71,314 | C+ |
| Teacher Education | $42,793 | D |
| International Relations | $48,992 | D |
| Accounting | $71,798 | 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 the strongest program at Misericordia by both volume and earnings. With 98 graduates per year, it is the largest program on campus. One-year earnings hit $78,428, rising to $88,523 by year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.344 on $27,000 median debt earns a B+ ROI grade. Northeastern Pennsylvania has a substantial health care employer base including Geisinger and regional hospital systems, creating reliable placement pathways. Nursing graduates here face less geographic competition than those from urban schools, and the regional demand for RNs remains strong. The B+ grade reflects solid, if not exceptional, returns.
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General
The general Health Sciences program graduates 98 students per year, tying nursing as the campus's largest program. Four-year median earnings reach $68,418, with a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.395 on $27,000 debt - earning a B grade. This program pathway feeds health administration, clinical coordination, and related roles across hospital and outpatient care settings. The broad scope of the degree means career trajectories vary, but the regional health care market provides steady demand. The B grade signals reasonable but not exceptional returns.
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment
Allied Health Diagnostic and Treatment graduates 34 students per year with strong early outcomes - one-year earnings of $65,521 and four-year earnings of $79,580. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.412 on $27,000 debt earns a B grade. This cluster covers clinical fields such as medical imaging, clinical laboratory work, and diagnostic technology - all areas with consistent demand from hospitals and outpatient clinics. The program sits at the second tier of health science ROI at Misericordia, behind nursing but well ahead of the business programs.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration graduates 46 students per year. One-year earnings of $41,076 and four-year earnings of $72,833 reflect a reasonable trajectory, but the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.657 on $27,000 debt earns only a C. In a rural/small-city Pennsylvania market, business graduates from Misericordia typically enter small and medium regional employers. The gap between health programs and business programs at this school is significant - a business student paying the same net price as a nursing student faces a considerably longer payback window.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 76.5% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 79.8% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.6% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 75.9% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Misericordia University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
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 | 70.9% |
| Enrollment | 1,672 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 27.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $8,504 |
Misericordia does not report SAT or ACT score ranges publicly. The school does not report selectivity data in the standard form. At a 70.9% admission rate, qualified applicants across a wide academic range are likely to be admitted. The school appears to focus on holistic review and program fit rather than standardized test scores.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Misericordia's peer group includes Albright College and Walsh University. All three schools operate in the small private Catholic/regional college space with similar enrollment profiles. Misericordia's flat, high net price across income bands is unusual - most comparably sized schools offer more meaningful income-based differentiation. The 71.7% completion rate is above the national average and stronger than many peers in this tier. Misericordia's health science cluster is its distinguishing strength; without that, the ROI case for most programs here is difficult to make.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Misericordia University (this school) | 57 | $37,485 | $64,313 |
| Walsh University | 58 | $20,493 | $59,764 |
| St. Francis College | 57 | $18,129 | $58,099 |
| Albright College | 56 | $20,024 | $58,700 |
| Southern Nazarene University | 55 | $22,084 | $54,951 |
| Bryn Athyn College of the New Church | 34 | $20,586 | $40,457 |
Who Thrives Here
The 70.9% admission rate and absence of SAT/ACT score data suggest Misericordia focuses on student readiness through other signals. The Pell rate of 27.2% reflects a moderate share of lower-income students. Students who fit best are those committed to health science careers - nursing, allied health, and health administration - where the program-level data is considerably stronger than the school's overall ROI. Students pursuing non-health programs face a harder financial case given the flat, high net price across income levels.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Misericordia University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $37,485 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $64,313 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.9 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What it has going for it: its 71.7% graduation rate. What to keep an eye on: weak earnings relative to cost.
Median debt of $26,973 against $64,313 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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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.