CSU vs. Mount Mercy College

Should I go to Chicago State University or Mount Mercy University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if CSU or Mount Mercy College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Chicago State University vs. Mount Mercy University comparison
Chicago State University Mount Mercy University College 3 College 4
Chicago State University Mount Mercy University
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Overview

CSU Mount Mercy College
Location Chicago, IL Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 2,317 1,526
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #870
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website csu.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

CSU Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $7,656 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $7,656 $36,606
Room & Board $13,800 $10,636
Avg Net Price $6,446 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $15,891 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 100%

Admission

CSU Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,404 1,569
Admitted 3,592 1,181
Acceptance Rate 48.5% 75.3%
Enrolled % 4.8% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.18 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 15/19
SAT Range 750/963
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

CSU Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (31%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

CSU Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 21% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $38,300 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 25% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $31,250 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $323 $230

Diversity

CSU Mount Mercy College
% Men 33% 36%
% Women 67% 64%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 3% 81%
% Black 75% 7%
% Hispanic 8% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 2%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 12% 3%

Students

CSU Mount Mercy College
% In-State 77% 60%
% Out-of-State 20% 28%

Campus

CSU Mount Mercy College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Chicago State University is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (2,317 students vs. 1,526 students)

CSU vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CSU or Mount Mercy College?

  • Mount Mercy University is 378.1% more expensive to attend than CSU for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 378.1% higher at Mount Mercy College than Chicago State University ($36,606.00 vs. $7,656.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Chicago State University than Mount Mercy College ($6,446 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 29.7% lower than costs at Chicago State University ($10,636 vs. $13,800)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Chicago State University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 71.7% larger than aid received Chicago State University ($27,288 vs. $15,891)

CSU vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CSU 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 CSU .

  • The average SAT score at Mount Mercy University (990) is 115 points higher than at CSU (875)
  • Incoming Mount Mercy College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at CSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CSU (3.18)
  • Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than CSU (48.5%)

CSU vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, CSU 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 CSU.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Chicago State University (60% vs. 21%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $7,600 more per year than CSU graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $38,300)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $9,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CSU graduates. ($22,250 vs. $31,250)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $93 less per month on federal student loans than CSU graduates. ($230 vs. $323)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/