California College of the Arts vs. Mount Mercy College

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Mercy University is larger than California College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,417 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); Mount Mercy University is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Mount Mercy University 14:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts or Mount Mercy College? 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 Mount Mercy University than California College of the Arts ($24,347 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 47.5% lower than at California College of the Arts ($11,600 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 47.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $19,348 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.3% higher at California College of the Arts than at Mount Mercy University (about $19,348 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 7.2% larger than aid received by Mount Mercy University students ($32,953 vs. $30,735).

California College of the Arts vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Mount Mercy College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at California College of the Arts (3.34).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Mount Mercy College (82.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 27.9% at Mount Mercy College.

California College of the Arts vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Mount Mercy University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than California College of the Arts's (49%).
• Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than California College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $43,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $5,750 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($22,250 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($230 vs. $289).
• More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former California College of the Arts students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.