Mercy vs. Penn State New Kensington

Comparable Facts

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

Mercy University is larger than Penn State New Kensington based on total student enrollment (8,991 students vs. 421 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mercy University is located in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting); Penn State New Kensington is in New Kensington, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State New Kensington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy University 16:1; Penn State New Kensington 9:1.

Mercy vs. Penn State New Kensington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington ($15,200 vs. $19,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy University are 0.2% lower than at Penn State New Kensington ($15,250 vs. $15,274).
• Mercy University is 58.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State New Kensington (about $8,472 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington (99% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 126.2% larger than aid received by Penn State New Kensington students ($17,664 vs. $7,809).

Mercy vs. Penn State New Kensington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State New Kensington (1190) is 60 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 1020/1230; Penn State New Kensington 1110/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 21/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy - Test-free; Penn State New Kensington - Test optional.
• Penn State New Kensington has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Mercy (85.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Mercy vs. 22% at Penn State New Kensington.

Mercy vs. Penn State New Kensington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy and Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Mercy University's (31%).
• Graduates from Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington graduates ($23,699 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Mercy graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State New Kensington graduates ($245 vs. $277).
• More Penn State New Kensington 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.