Art Center College of Design vs. Mount Mercy College

Should I go to Art Center College of Design or Mount Mercy University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Art Center College of Design or Mount Mercy College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Art Center College of Design vs. Mount Mercy University comparison
Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy University College 3 College 4
Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy University
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Overview

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
Location Pasadena, CA Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,420 1,526
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website artcenter.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $48,942 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $48,942 $36,606
Room & Board $14,338 $10,636
Avg Net Price $53,617 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $16,665 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 56% 100%

Admission

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,285 1,569
Admitted 912 1,181
Acceptance Rate 71% 75.3%
Enrolled % 31.8% 19%
Avg High School GPA - 3.5
Typical High School Grades - B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (87%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Communications Technology (5%)
  • Architecture (3%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 54% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,300 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,250 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $323 $230

Diversity

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
% Men 43% 36%
% Women 57% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 18% 81%
% Black 1% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 27% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
% In-State 45% 60%
% Out-of-State 8% 28%

Campus

Art Center College of Design Mount Mercy College
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Art Center College of Design is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (2,420 students vs. 1,526 students)

Art Center College of Design vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Mount Mercy College?

  • Art Center College of Design is 33.7% more expensive to attend than Mount Mercy College for in-state tuition ($48,942.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33.7% higher at Art Center College of Design than Mount Mercy University ($48,942.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than Art Center College of Design ($24,078 vs. $53,617)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 34.8% lower than costs at Art Center College of Design ($10,636 vs. $14,338)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 56%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 63.7% larger than aid received Art Center College of Design ($27,288 vs. $16,665)

Art Center College of Design vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Mount Mercy College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mount Mercy College or Art Center College of Design .

  • Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Art Center College of Design (71%)

Art Center College of Design vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Art Center College of Design or Mount Mercy College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mount Mercy College and Art Center College of Design.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Art Center College of Design (60% vs. 54%)
  • Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn on average $12,400 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates after ten years. ($58,300 vs. $45,900)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $9,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates. ($22,250 vs. $31,250)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $93 less per month on federal student loans than Art Center College of Design graduates. ($230 vs. $323)
  • More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 71%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/