Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Dean College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA with Dean College in Franklin, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dean College is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (1,092 students vs. 869 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mercy College of Health Sciences is located in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting); Dean College is in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1; Dean College 15:1.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Dean College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy College of Health Sciences or Dean 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences than Dean College ($28,313 vs. $32,085).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 49.7% lower than at Dean College ($10,000 vs. $19,864).
• Dean College is 163.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $28,862 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 163.4% higher at Dean College than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $28,862 more per year; $46,526.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dean College than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 298.2% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($32,958 vs. $8,276).

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Dean College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy College of Health Sciences or Dean 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 Dean College and Mercy College of Health Sciences.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy College of Health Sciences 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional; Dean College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Mercy College of Health Sciences students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than Dean College (73.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. 8.7% at Dean College.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Dean College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy College of Health Sciences and Dean 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).

• Graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn a median of about $12,200 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $3,647 lower median loan debt than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates ($16,353 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates ($169 vs. $206).
• More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 53%)

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.