California College of the Arts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Mercy College of Health Sciences is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
• California College of the Arts 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: California College of the Arts 8:1; Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences than California College of the Arts ($28,313 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 54.7% lower than at California College of the Arts ($10,000 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 241% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $42,562 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 241% higher at California College of the Arts than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $42,562 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California College of the Arts than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (96% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 298.2% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($32,953 vs. $8,276).

California College of the Arts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Mercy College of Health Sciences? 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences and California College of the Arts.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMercy College of Health Sciences 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman California College of the Arts students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than California College of the Arts (91.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences.

California College of the Arts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Mercy College of Health Sciences? 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).

• Graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn a median of about $3,900 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have a $8,000 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($20,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have an estimated $83 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($206 vs. $289).
• More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 62%)

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.