Bethune-Cookman vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences

Comparable Facts

Compare Bethune Cookman University in Daytona Beach, FL with Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bethune Cookman University is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (2,853 students vs. 869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bethune Cookman University is located in Daytona Beach, FL (Small City setting); Mercy College of Health Sciences is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
• Bethune Cookman University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bethune Cookman University 17:1; Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1.

Bethune-Cookman vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bethune-Cookman or Mercy College of Health Sciences? 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 Bethune Cookman University than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($12,476 vs. $28,313).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 3.8% lower than at Bethune Cookman University ($10,000 vs. $10,396).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences is 19.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bethune-Cookman (about $2,870 more per year; $17,664.00 vs. $14,794.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 19.4% higher at Mercy College of Health Sciences than at Bethune Cookman University (about $2,870 more per year; $17,664.00 vs. $14,794.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bethune Cookman University than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (98% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bethune Cookman University students is 107.6% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($17,181 vs. $8,276).

Bethune-Cookman vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bethune-Cookman or Mercy College of Health Sciences? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mercy College of Health Sciences and Bethune-Cookman.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Bethune Cookman University 830/990.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresMercy College of Health Sciences 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bethune-Cookman - Test optional; Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional.
• Enrolled freshman Bethune-Cookman students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than Bethune-Cookman (88.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at Bethune-Cookman vs. 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences.

Bethune-Cookman vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bethune-Cookman and Mercy College of Health Sciences? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Bethune Cookman University's six-year graduation rate is 37%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Mercy College of Health Sciences.
• Graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn a median of about $15,700 more per year than Bethune-Cookman graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have a $15,985 lower median loan debt than Bethune-Cookman graduates ($20,000 vs. $35,985).
• Among borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have an estimated $166 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Bethune-Cookman graduates ($206 vs. $372).
• More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bethune-Cookman students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 20%)

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.