Blackburn College vs. Mount Mercy College

Should I go to Blackburn College or Mount Mercy University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Blackburn College 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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Blackburn College vs. Mount Mercy University comparison
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Blackburn College Mount Mercy University
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Overview

 Blackburn College Mount Mercy College
Location Carlinville, IL Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Rural Fringe Midsize City
Enrollment 382 1,526
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website blackburn.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Blackburn College Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $26,055 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $26,055 $36,606
Room & Board $9,020 $10,636
Avg Net Price $21,575 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $14,112 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Blackburn College Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 783 1,569
Admitted 504 1,181
Acceptance Rate 64.4% 75.3%
Enrolled % 21% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.23 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/24
SAT Range 888/1125
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Blackburn College Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

 Blackburn College Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 48% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $40,400 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $268 $230

Diversity

 Blackburn College Mount Mercy College
% Men 44% 36%
% Women 56% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 81%
% Black 13% 7%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

 Blackburn College Mount Mercy College
% In-State 70% 60%
% Out-of-State 30% 28%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mount Mercy University is larger than than Blackburn College based on total student enrollment (1,526 students vs. 382 students)

Blackburn College vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Blackburn College or Mount Mercy College?

  • Mount Mercy University is 40.5% more expensive to attend than Blackburn College for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $26,055.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.5% higher at Mount Mercy College than Blackburn College ($36,606.00 vs. $26,055.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Blackburn College than Mount Mercy College ($21,575 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Blackburn College are 17.9% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($9,020 vs. $10,636)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Blackburn College as Mount Mercy University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 93.4% larger than aid received Blackburn College ($27,288 vs. $14,112)

Blackburn College vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Blackburn College 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 Blackburn College .

  • The average SAT score at Blackburn College (1005) is 15 points higher than at Mount Mercy College (990)
  • Incoming Blackburn College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Mount Mercy College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Blackburn College (3.23)
  • Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Blackburn College (64.4%)

Blackburn College vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Blackburn College 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 Blackburn College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Blackburn College (60% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $5,500 more per year than Blackburn College graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $40,400)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Blackburn College graduates. ($22,250 vs. $26,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Blackburn College graduates. ($230 vs. $268)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Blackburn College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 58%)

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