Mercy vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

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

Mercy University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (8,991 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mercy University is located in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy University 16:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Mercy vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver ($15,200 vs. $18,581).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 5.1% lower than at Mercy University ($14,474 vs. $15,250).
• Mercy University is 58.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $8,472 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Penn State Beaver than at Mercy University (about $1,254 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $22,880.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy University than at Penn State Beaver (99% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 95.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($17,664 vs. $9,045).

Mercy vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 60 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 21/25; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy - Test-free; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Mercy (85.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Mercy vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Mercy vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy and Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Mercy University's (31%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver graduates ($23,699 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mercy graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($245 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver 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.