Columbia College vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences

Should I go to Columbia College Chicago or Mercy College of Health Sciences? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Columbia College or Mercy College of Health Sciences 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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Columbia College Chicago vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences comparison
Columbia College Chicago Mercy College of Health Sciences College 3 College 4
Columbia College Chicago
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Overview

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
Location Chicago, IL Des Moines, IA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,646 911
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu mchs.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $16,632
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $16,632
Room & Board $18,000 $7,410
Avg Net Price $28,387 $22,433
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $9,472
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 75%

Admission

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 152
Admitted 7,298 147
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 96.7%
Enrolled % 22%Open 46.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.12
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/24
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Health Professions (100%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
Graduation Rate 41% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $206

Diversity

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
% Men 40% 14%
% Women 60% 86%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 85%
% Black 15% 6%
% Hispanic 11% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 7% 1%

Students

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
% In-State 57% 90%
% Out-of-State 40% 10%

Campus

Columbia College Mercy College of Health Sciences
Campus Housing Yes No
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 911 students)

Columbia College vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Columbia College or Mercy College of Health Sciences?

  • Columbia College Chicago is 76% more expensive to attend than Mercy College of Health Sciences for in-state tuition ($29,270.00 vs. $16,632.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76% higher at Columbia College than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($29,270.00 vs. $16,632.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercy College of Health Sciences than Columbia College ($22,433 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 142.9% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($7,410 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia College Chicago than Mercy College of Health Sciences (99% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Columbia College Chicago students is 90.2% larger than aid received Mercy College of Health Sciences ($18,020 vs. $9,472)

Columbia College vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College or Mercy College of Health Sciences? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercy College of Health Sciences or Columbia College .

  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (96.7%) than Columbia College (94.8%)

Columbia College vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College or Mercy College of Health Sciences? 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences and Columbia College.

  • Graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn on average $10,100 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $37,300)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($20,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($206 vs. $268)
  • More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 46%)

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