Mercy vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercy University is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (8,991 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mercy University is located in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy University 16:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Mercy vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy or Penn State Abington? 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 University than Penn State Abington ($15,200 vs. $19,232).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 5.1% lower than at Mercy University ($14,474 vs. $15,250).
• Mercy University is 49.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $7,612 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.2% higher at Penn State Abington than at Mercy University (about $2,784 more per year; $25,664.00 vs. $22,880.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy University than at Penn State Abington (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 78.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($17,664 vs. $9,883).

Mercy vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington and Mercy.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 40 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Mercy).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 1020/1230; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 21/25; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy - Test-free; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Mercy (3.19).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Mercy (85.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Mercy vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Mercy vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy and Penn State Abington? 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).

• Penn State Abington's six-year graduation rate (44%) is higher than Mercy University's (31%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $13,100 more per year than Mercy graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy University graduates have a $3,119 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($23,699 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mercy graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($245 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 40%)

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.