Holy Names University vs. Mount Mercy College

Should I go to Holy Names University or Mount Mercy University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Names University 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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Holy Names University vs. Mount Mercy University comparison
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Holy Names University Mount Mercy University
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Overview

Holy Names University Mount Mercy College
Location Oakland, CA Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Large City Midsize City
Enrollment 959 1,526
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website hnu.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Holy Names University Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $41,579 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $41,579 $36,606
Room & Board $14,274 $10,636
Avg Net Price $23,065 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $33,236 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Holy Names University Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 921 1,569
Admitted 921 1,181
Acceptance Rate 100% 75.3%
Enrolled % 14.8% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.35 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 15, 2025

Academics

Holy Names University Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Psychology (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

Holy Names University Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 39% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $55,500 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $230

Diversity

Holy Names University Mount Mercy College
% Men 32% 36%
% Women 68% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 21% 81%
% Black 18% 7%
% Hispanic 37% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 3% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Holy Names University Mount Mercy College
% In-State 92% 60%
% Out-of-State 7% 28%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mount Mercy University is larger than than Holy Names University based on total student enrollment (1,526 students vs. 959 students)

Holy Names University vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Names University or Mount Mercy College?

  • Holy Names University is 13.6% more expensive to attend than Mount Mercy College for in-state tuition ($41,579.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 13.6% higher at Holy Names University than Mount Mercy University ($41,579.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Holy Names University than Mount Mercy College ($23,065 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 34.2% lower than costs at Holy Names University ($10,636 vs. $14,274)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Holy Names University as Mount Mercy University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Holy Names University students is 21.8% larger than aid received Mount Mercy University ($33,236 vs. $27,288)

Holy Names University vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Names University 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 Holy Names University .

  • The average SAT score at Mount Mercy University (990) is 132 points higher than at Holy Names University (858)
  • Incoming Mount Mercy College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Holy Names University (18)
  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Holy Names University (3.35)
  • Holy Names University has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)

Holy Names University vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Names University 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 Holy Names University.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Holy Names University (60% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Holy Names University earn on average $9,600 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates after ten years. ($55,500 vs. $45,900)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Names University graduates. ($22,250 vs. $27,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Names University graduates. ($230 vs. $279)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Holy Names University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 51%)

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