Illinois College vs. Mount Mercy College

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

Illinois College Mount Mercy College
Location Jacksonville, IL Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,029 1,526
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #687
Religious Affiliation Presbyterian Church (USA) Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ic.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Illinois College Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $35,796 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $35,796 $36,606
Room & Board $9,964 $10,636
Avg Net Price $16,296 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $29,785 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Illinois College Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,243 1,569
Admitted 2,503 1,181
Acceptance Rate 77.2% 75.3%
Enrolled % 9.3% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.63 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26
SAT Range 960/1126
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

Illinois College Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Biology (14%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

Illinois College Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 57% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,300 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 79% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $230

Diversity

Illinois College Mount Mercy College
% Men 47% 36%
% Women 53% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 69% 81%
% Black 12% 7%
% Hispanic 10% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Illinois College Mount Mercy College
% In-State 70% 60%
% Out-of-State 21% 28%

Campus

Illinois 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

  • Mount Mercy University is larger than than Illinois College based on total student enrollment (1,526 students vs. 1,029 students)

Illinois College vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

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

  • Mount Mercy University is 2.3% more expensive to attend than Illinois College for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $35,796.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.3% higher at Mount Mercy College than Illinois College ($36,606.00 vs. $35,796.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Illinois College than Mount Mercy College ($16,296 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Illinois College are 6.7% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($9,964 vs. $10,636)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Illinois College as Mount Mercy University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Illinois College students is 9.2% larger than aid received Mount Mercy University ($29,785 vs. $27,288)

Illinois College vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Illinois College students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.63) than students at Mount Mercy College (3.5)
  • Illinois College has a higher acceptance rate (77.2%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)

Illinois College vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Illinois 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 Illinois College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Illinois College (60% vs. 57%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $600 more per year than Illinois College graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $45,300)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Illinois College graduates. ($22,250 vs. $27,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Illinois College graduates. ($230 vs. $279)
  • More Illinois College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 71%)

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