Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mount Mercy College

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

 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Mercy College
Location Mount Pleasant, IA Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Remote Town Midsize City
Enrollment 871 1,526
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwc.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $33,550 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $33,550 $36,606
Room & Board $11,340 $10,636
Avg Net Price $20,074 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $26,670 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 100%

Admission

 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,975 1,569
Admitted 2,404 1,181
Acceptance Rate 80.8% 75.3%
Enrolled % 8% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.02 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 830/1010
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 25% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,900 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $258 $230

Diversity

 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Mercy College
% Men 56% 36%
% Women 44% 64%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 52% 81%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 24% 3%

Students

 Iowa Wesleyan College Mount Mercy College
% In-State 25% 60%
% Out-of-State 60% 28%

Campus

 Iowa Wesleyan 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 Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,526 students vs. 871 students)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Wesleyan College or Mount Mercy College?

  • Mount Mercy University is 9.1% more expensive to attend than Iowa Wesleyan College for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9.1% higher at Mount Mercy College than Iowa Wesleyan College ($36,606.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Iowa Wesleyan College than Mount Mercy College ($20,074 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 6.6% lower than costs at Iowa Wesleyan College ($10,636 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Iowa Wesleyan College (100% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 2.3% larger than aid received Iowa Wesleyan College ($27,288 vs. $26,670)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Iowa Wesleyan 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 Iowa Wesleyan College .

  • The average SAT score at Mount Mercy University (990) is 41 points higher than at Iowa Wesleyan College (949)
  • Incoming Mount Mercy College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa Wesleyan 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 Iowa Wesleyan College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (60% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $9,000 more per year than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $36,900)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates. ($22,250 vs. $25,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $28 less per month on federal student loans than Iowa Wesleyan College graduates. ($230 vs. $258)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Iowa Wesleyan College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 55%)

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