Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. UW-La Crosse

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA with University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (10,446 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); University of Wisconsin La Crosse is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy College of Health Sciences or UW-La Crosse? 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 University of Wisconsin La Crosse than Mercy College of Health Sciences ($14,712 vs. $28,313).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 13% lower than at Mercy College of Health Sciences ($8,702 vs. $10,000).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences is 75.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-La Crosse (about $7,594 more per year; $17,664.00 vs. $10,070.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at UW-La Crosse than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $1,853 more per year; $19,517.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy College of Health Sciences than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (63% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students is 84% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($8,276 vs. $4,499).

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy College of Health Sciences or UW-La Crosse? 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 UW-La Crosse and Mercy College of Health Sciences.

• Incoming UW-La Crosse students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 21 at Mercy College of Health Sciences).
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy College of Health Sciences 19/24; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional; UW-La Crosse - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than UW-La Crosse (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. 43.2% at UW-La Crosse.

Mercy College of Health Sciences vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy College of Health Sciences and UW-La Crosse? 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 University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $2,100 more per year than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have a $3,250 lower median loan debt than UW-La Crosse graduates ($20,000 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UW-La Crosse graduates ($206 vs. $240).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy College of Health Sciences students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 66%)

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.