Marian vs. Mount Mercy College

Comparable Facts

Compare Marian University in Indianapolis, IN with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Marian University is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (3,486 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marian University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Mount Mercy University is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting).
• Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marian University 13:1; Mount Mercy University 14:1.

Marian vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marian or Mount Mercy College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marian University than Mount Mercy College ($22,786 vs. $24,347).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 16.2% lower than at Marian University ($11,600 vs. $13,850).
• Mount Mercy University is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Marian (about $214 more per year; $40,878.00 vs. $40,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Mount Mercy College than at Marian University (about $214 more per year; $40,878.00 vs. $40,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University than at Marian University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 5.3% larger than aid received by Mount Mercy University students ($32,351 vs. $30,735).

Marian vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marian or Mount Mercy College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mount Mercy College and Marian.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marian - Test-free; Mount Mercy College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027; Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Mount Mercy College (3.5).
• Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Mount Mercy College (82.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Marian vs. 27.9% at Mount Mercy College.

Marian vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marian and Mount Mercy College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Mount Mercy University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Marian University's (58%).
• Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Marian graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Marian graduates ($22,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Marian graduates ($230 vs. $279).
• More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marian students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 57%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.