Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mars Hill University is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (1,110 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); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy College of Health Sciences or Mars Hill University? 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 Mars Hill University than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($18,925 vs. $28,313).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 18.4% lower than at Mars Hill University ($10,000 vs. $12,258).
• Mars Hill University is 113.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $20,072 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 113.6% higher at Mars Hill University than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $20,072 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (100% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 275.4% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($31,066 vs. $8,276).

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Mars Hill University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy College of Health Sciences or Mars Hill University? 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 Mars Hill University 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; Mars Hill University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy College of Health Sciences and Mars Hill University? 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 $15,100 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have a $7,000 lower median loan debt than Mars Hill University graduates ($20,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have an estimated $73 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mars Hill University graduates ($206 vs. $279).
• More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University 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.