Columbia College vs. Mount Mercy College

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

Columbia College Mount Mercy College
Location Chicago, IL Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 6,646 1,526
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colum.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Columbia College Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $29,270 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $29,270 $36,606
Room & Board $18,000 $10,636
Avg Net Price $28,387 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $18,020 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Columbia College Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,701 1,569
Admitted 7,298 1,181
Acceptance Rate 94.8%Open 75.3%
Enrolled % 22%Open 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.41 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Columbia College Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (63%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Communications Technology (6%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

Columbia College Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 41% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,300 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 46% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $268 $230

Diversity

Columbia College Mount Mercy College
% Men 40% 36%
% Women 60% 64%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 81%
% Black 15% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

Columbia College Mount Mercy College
% In-State 57% 60%
% Out-of-State 40% 28%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia College Chicago is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (6,646 students vs. 1,526 students)

Columbia College vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

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

  • Mount Mercy University is 25.1% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 25.1% higher at Mount Mercy College than Columbia College Chicago ($36,606.00 vs. $29,270.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than Columbia College ($24,078 vs. $28,387)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 69.2% lower than costs at Columbia College Chicago ($10,636 vs. $18,000)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Columbia College Chicago (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 51.4% larger than aid received Columbia College Chicago ($27,288 vs. $18,020)

Columbia College vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Columbia College 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 Columbia College .

  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Columbia College (3.41)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (94.8%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)

Columbia College vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Columbia College 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 Columbia College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Columbia College Chicago (60% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $37,300)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia College graduates. ($22,250 vs. $26,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia College graduates. ($230 vs. $268)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 46%)

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