CalArts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences

Comparable Facts

Compare California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, 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 Institute of the Arts is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (1,277 students vs. 869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California Institute of the Arts is located in Valencia, CA (Midsize Suburban setting); Mercy College of Health Sciences is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
• California Institute 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 Institute of the Arts 7:1; Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1.

CalArts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CalArts 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 CalArts ($28,313 vs. $56,239).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 29.2% lower than at California Institute of the Arts ($10,000 vs. $14,134).
• California Institute of the Arts is 234% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $41,332 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 234% higher at CalArts than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $41,332 more per year; $58,996.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at California Institute of the Arts than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (95% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California Institute of the Arts students is 158.8% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($21,416 vs. $8,276).

CalArts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CalArts 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 CalArts.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMercy College of Health Sciences 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CalArts - Test-free; Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: CalArts Jan 5, 2027.
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than CalArts (32.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at CalArts vs. 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences.

CalArts vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CalArts 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 California Institute of the Arts earn a median of about $3,000 more per year than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,400 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have a $8,500 lower median loan debt than CalArts graduates ($20,000 vs. $28,500).
• Among borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have an estimated $88 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CalArts graduates ($206 vs. $294).
• More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CalArts students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 64%)

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.