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Coe College University of Dubuque William Penn University| Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy College | ||
| Location | Storm Lake, IA | Cedar Rapids, IA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,973 | 1,526 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #714 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Presbyterian Church (USA) | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bvu.edu | mtmercy.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $38,644 | $36,606 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $38,644 | $36,606 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,680 | $10,636 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,204 | $24,078 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,703 | $27,288 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,562 | 1,569 | ||
| Admitted | 1,207 | 1,181 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 77.3% | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.6% | 19% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.49 | 3.5 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 930/1130 | |||
| 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 |
Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $41,200 | $45,900 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,022 | $22,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $230 |
Diversity |
Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 30% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 70% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 80% | 81% | ||
| % Black | 1% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 2% | ||
| % International | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 3% |
Students |
Buena Vista University | Mount Mercy College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 58% | 60% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 41% | 28% | ||
Campus |
Buena Vista University | 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
- Buena Vista University is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,973 students vs. 1,526 students)
Buena Vista University vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Buena Vista University or Mount Mercy College?
- Buena Vista University is 5.6% more expensive to attend than Mount Mercy College for in-state tuition ($38,644.00 vs. $36,606.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.6% higher at Buena Vista University than Mount Mercy University ($38,644.00 vs. $36,606.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Buena Vista University than Mount Mercy College ($19,204 vs. $24,078)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 0.4% lower than costs at Buena Vista University ($10,636 vs. $10,680)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Buena Vista University as Mount Mercy University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Buena Vista University students is 23.5% larger than aid received Mount Mercy University ($33,703 vs. $27,288)
Buena Vista University vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Buena Vista University 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 Buena Vista University .
- The average SAT score at Buena Vista University (1010) is 20 points higher than at Mount Mercy College (990)
- Incoming Buena Vista University 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 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Buena Vista University (3.49)
- Buena Vista University has a higher acceptance rate (77.3%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)
Buena Vista University vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Buena Vista University 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 Buena Vista University.
- The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Buena Vista University (60% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Buena Vista University graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $41,200)
- Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $1,772 lower median federal student loan debt than Buena Vista University graduates. ($22,250 vs. $24,022)
- Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Buena Vista University graduates. ($230 vs. $248)
- More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Buena Vista University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/