Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Shaw University

Should I go to Mercy College of Health Sciences or Shaw University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercy College of Health Sciences or Shaw University 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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Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Shaw University comparison
Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University College 3 College 4
Shaw University
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Overview

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
Location Des Moines, IA Raleigh, NC
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 911 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mchs.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $16,632 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $16,632 $11,808
Room & Board $7,410 $8,514
Avg Net Price $22,433 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $9,472 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 75% 87%

Admission

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 152 2,435
Admitted 147 1,486
Acceptance Rate 96.7% 61%
Enrolled % 46.9% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 2.6
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/24
SAT Range
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 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (100%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
Graduation Rate - 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $206 $392

Diversity

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
% Men 14% 47%
% Women 86% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No Yes
% White 85% 1%
% Black 6% 58%
% Hispanic 3% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 0% 2%
% Unknown Race 1% 39%

Students

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
% In-State 90% 55%
% Out-of-State 10% 34%

Campus

Mercy College of Health Sciences Shaw University
Campus Housing No Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan No Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Shaw University is larger than than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (1,067 students vs. 911 students)

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy College of Health Sciences or Shaw University?

  • Mercy College of Health Sciences is 40.9% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($16,632.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 40.9% higher at Mercy College of Health Sciences than Shaw University ($16,632.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($14,204 vs. $22,433)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 14.9% lower than costs at Shaw University ($7,410 vs. $8,514)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Shaw University than Mercy College of Health Sciences (87% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Shaw University students is 64.1% larger than aid received Mercy College of Health Sciences ($15,548 vs. $9,472)

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy College of Health Sciences or Shaw University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shaw University or Mercy College of Health Sciences .

  • Accepted freshman Mercy College of Health Sciences students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.12) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (96.7%) than Shaw University (61%)

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercy College of Health Sciences or Shaw University? 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 Shaw University and Mercy College of Health Sciences.

  • Graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn on average $18,400 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $29,000)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences students graduate with a $18,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($20,000 vs. $38,000)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are paying $186 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($206 vs. $392)
  • More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 15%)

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