Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. SC

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

 Mercy College of Health Sciences SC
Location Des Moines, IA Sterling, KS
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 911 706
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mchs.edu sterling.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Mercy College of Health Sciences SC
Tuition (In State) $16,632 $28,500
Tuition (Out of State) $16,632 $28,500
Room & Board $7,410 $9,336
Avg Net Price $22,433 $22,680
Avg Grant Aid $9,472 $19,729
% Receiving Grant Aid 75% 100%

Admission

 Mercy College of Health Sciences SC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 152 1,959
Admitted 147 1,197
Acceptance Rate 96.7% 61.1%
Enrolled % 46.9% 13.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.46
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/24 18/24
SAT Range 938/1123
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 17, 2025

Academics

 Mercy College of Health Sciences SC
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (100%)
  • Education (26%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (6%)

Outcomes

 Mercy College of Health Sciences SC
Graduation Rate - 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $37,400
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,000 $24,663
Median Loan Payment $206 $255

Diversity

 Mercy College of Health Sciences SC
% Men 14% 59%
% Women 86% 41%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 85% 68%
% Black 6% 11%
% Hispanic 3% 15%
% Native American 0% 2%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 0% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

 Mercy College of Health Sciences SC
% In-State 90% 37%
% Out-of-State 10% 53%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mercy College of Health Sciences is larger than than SC based on total student enrollment (911 students vs. 706 students)

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. SC Cost Comparison

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

  • Sterling College is 71.4% more expensive to attend than Mercy College of Health Sciences for in-state tuition ($28,500.00 vs. $16,632.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 71.4% higher at SC than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($28,500.00 vs. $16,632.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercy College of Health Sciences than SC ($22,433 vs. $22,680)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 26% lower than costs at Sterling College ($7,410 vs. $9,336)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Sterling College than Mercy College of Health Sciences (100% vs. 75%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 108.3% larger than aid received Mercy College of Health Sciences ($19,729 vs. $9,472)

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. SC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SC students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (96.7%) than SC (61.1%)

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. SC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from Mercy College of Health Sciences earn on average $10,000 more per year than SC graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $37,400)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences students graduate with a $4,663 lower median federal student loan debt than SC graduates. ($20,000 vs. $24,663)
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than SC graduates. ($206 vs. $255)
  • More Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SC students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 60%)

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