Mount Mercy University
Cedar Rapids, Iowa · Private Nonprofit · 82.5% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 68/100 · Fair Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Mount Mercy University is a small private Catholic institution in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, scoring 68 (Fair Value) on the CampusROI scale. Sticker tuition is high at $40,878, but average net price is $20,168 (a 51% institutional discount) and the four-year total works out to $80,672. Outcomes are reasonable: 10-year median earnings of $60,787 produce a 32% earnings premium (sub-score 70) and an 8.6-year payback period (sub-score 71). Median debt of $23,699 against those earnings yields a 0.54 debt-to-earnings ratio (sub-score 65). Repayment at 81.7% (sub-score 75) is strong, and completion at 57.7% (sub-score 57) is above average for a small private. The earnings strength is driven heavily by the school's nursing program, which produces 78 graduates per year (the largest cohort by far) at $75,613 four-year earnings.
Mount Mercy University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $40,878/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $40,878/yr |
| Average net price | $20,168/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $80,672 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $60,787 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $43,600 |
| Median debt at graduation | $23,699 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $251 |
| Estimated payback period | 8.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 57.7% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 1,107 |
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: $40,878/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $20,168/year, or roughly $80,672 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 $17,070/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $25,244/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $23,699, which works out to about $251 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($43,600) and comes to 0.54, 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 | $17,070 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,294 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $16,883 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,311 |
| $110,001+ | $25,244 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Families earning under $30,000 pay $17,070 net, notably above the $30,001-$48,000 bracket's $15,294 - an inverted bracket worth flagging. Over four years that is roughly $68,000 of cost. Pell aid plus Iowa state aid (Iowa Tuition Grant) covers a significant share, but borrowing is essentially required. The strong outcomes for nursing-track students make this workable; non-nursing tracks are tighter.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Households at $48,001-$75,000 pay $16,883 - slightly below the $30,001-$48,000 bracket, another mild inversion - while $75,001-$110,000 pays $20,311. Middle-income families face $67,000-$81,000 over four years. Combined with the 8.6-year payback period and strong nursing/business outcomes, this is a strong small-private value case at this income tier.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families above $110,000 pay $25,244 net, or about $101,000 over four years - still a 38% discount from sticker.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Mount Mercy University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $75,613 | B |
| Teacher Education | $47,713 | D |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $57,378 | C |
| Human Resources Management | $61,772 | C |
| Finance and Financial Management | $57,928 | C+ |
| Marketing | $57,111 | C |
| Business Administration and Management | $64,408 | C |
| Psychology | $45,951 | D |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,517 | D |
| Social Work | $49,542 | 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 Mount Mercy's flagship by a wide margin - 78 graduates per year, the single largest cohort. Graduates earn $66,647 at one year and $75,613 at four years against $27,000 of debt - a 0.41 debt-to-earnings ratio and a B grade. This is the highest-confidence ROI track at the school by a wide margin.
Teacher Education
Teacher Education is the second-largest cohort at 38 graduates per year. Graduates earn $43,810 at one year and $47,713 at four years against $30,687 of debt - a 0.70 debt-to-earnings ratio and a D grade. Iowa public-school teaching salaries are constrained by state pay scales; PSLF eligibility is the most important financial factor for graduates entering K-12 teaching.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration is a meaningful cohort at 27 graduates per year. Graduates earn $40,297 at one year and $57,378 at four years against $27,000 of debt - a 0.67 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C grade.
Human Resources Management
HR Management graduates earn $48,722 at one year and $61,772 at four years against $29,225 of debt - a 0.60 ratio and a C grade. With 17 graduates per year this is a smaller but solid cohort. The four-year earnings figure is competitive for a small-private HR track and reflects placement into corporate HR roles in Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.
Finance and Financial Management
Finance graduates earn $51,445 at one year and $57,928 at four years against $25,250 of debt - a 0.49 debt-to-earnings ratio and a C+ grade. With 16 graduates per year this is a smaller cohort but among the better ROI tracks on campus thanks to the relatively low debt load. Career endpoints include regional banking (Hills Bank, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust) and corporate finance roles.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 75.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 81.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 75.4% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 84.9% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Mount 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 | 82.5% |
| Enrollment | 1,107 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 26.7% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $6,815 |
Mount Mercy admits 82.5% of applicants, making it broadly accessible. SAT and ACT mid-ranges are not reported in current Scorecard data, which is consistent with a test-optional posture.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Mercy University (this school) | 68 | $20,168 | $60,787 |
| Mount Saint Mary College | 67 | $25,522 | $67,705 |
| Albion College | 65 | $14,301 | $58,799 |
| Saint Michael's College | 63 | $25,239 | $61,317 |
| Briar Cliff University | 46 | $23,907 | $54,475 |
| Buena Vista University | 39 | $18,846 | $49,156 |
Who Thrives Here
Outcomes look exceptional in nursing ($75,613 four-year) and respectable in business administration ($64,408), finance ($57,928), and HR management ($61,772).
The Verdict: A Reasonable Bet - With Caveats
Mount Mercy University is a fair-value bet, but how well it pays off depends a lot on you. At $20,168 a year after aid ($80,672 over four years), with the typical graduate earning $60,787 a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
What it has going for it: high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $23,699 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54, 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.
Mount Mercy University: Common Questions
Is Mount Mercy University worth it?
In our view, it's a fair-value bet - whether Mount Mercy University is worth it depends a lot on your major and aid package. It scores 68/100 on our ROI scale. At $20,168 a year after aid ($80,672 over four years) against $60,787 in typical earnings a decade out, the cost takes about 8.6 years to earn back. For context, the median payback across the schools we score is about 12 years.
How much does Mount 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 $20,168 a year, or roughly $80,672 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 Mount Mercy University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $60,787 ten years after enrolling, roughly $18,987 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 Mount 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 8.6 years for Mount Mercy University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Mount Mercy University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $23,699, against average earnings of $43,600 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.54. 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 Mount Mercy University?
The six-year graduation rate is 57.7%. 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.