California College of the Arts vs. Mercyhurst University

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercyhurst University is larger than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (2,632 students vs. 1,308 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Mercyhurst University is in Erie, PA (Midsize City setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercyhurst University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Mercyhurst University 14:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Mercyhurst University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Mercyhurst University? 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 Mercyhurst University than California College of the Arts ($25,946 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercyhurst University are 34.2% lower than at California College of the Arts ($14,540 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 31.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercyhurst University (about $14,456 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $45,770.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 31.6% higher at California College of the Arts than at Mercyhurst University (about $14,456 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $45,770.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercyhurst University than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercyhurst University students is 3% larger than aid received by California College of the Arts students ($33,949 vs. $32,953).

California College of the Arts vs. Mercyhurst University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts or Mercyhurst University? 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 Mercyhurst University and California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Mercyhurst University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Mercyhurst University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at California College of the Arts (3.34).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Mercyhurst University (81%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 20.3% at Mercyhurst University.

California College of the Arts vs. Mercyhurst University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts and Mercyhurst University? 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).

• Mercyhurst University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from Mercyhurst University earn a median of about $200 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,700 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercyhurst University graduates have a $1,302 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($26,698 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Mercyhurst University graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($276 vs. $289).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercyhurst University students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 56%)

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.