Art Center College of Design vs. Mount Mercy College

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Mount Mercy University is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Mount Mercy University 14:1.

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? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than Art Center College of Design ($24,347 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 40.9% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($11,600 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 32.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $13,292 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.5% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Mount Mercy University (about $13,292 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 37.1% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($30,735 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Mount Mercy College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mount Mercy College and Art Center College of Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Mount Mercy College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than Art Center College of Design (74.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 27.9% at Mount Mercy College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Mount Mercy College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Mount Mercy University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Art Center College of Design's (54%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $12,400 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $9,000 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($22,250 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.