Mercy vs. Fisher

Deciding between Mercy University and St. John Fisher University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mercy University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mercy Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • Fisher Rochester, NY
  • Setting
  • Mercy Large Suburban
  • Fisher Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Mercy 8,991
  • Fisher 3,693
  • Type
  • Mercy Private 4 Year
  • Fisher Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mercy #866
  • Fisher #213
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mercy -
  • Fisher Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Mercy Non-profit
  • Fisher Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mercy
  • Fisher
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Fisher $41,190
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Fisher $41,190
  • Room & Board
  • Mercy $15,250
  • Fisher $14,908
  • Average Net Price
  • Mercy $15,200
  • Fisher $30,540
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mercy $17,664
  • Fisher $24,530
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mercy 99%
  • Fisher 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mercy 8,642
  • Fisher 5,050
  • Admitted
  • Mercy 7,418
  • Fisher 3,353
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mercy 85.8%
  • Fisher 66.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Mercy 14.3%
  • Fisher 20.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mercy 1130
  • Fisher 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mercy 23
  • Fisher 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mercy 3.19
  • Fisher 3.53
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mercy B+
  • Fisher A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mercy Moderate
  • Fisher Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mercy
  • Fisher Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mercy 21/25
  • Fisher 23/28
  • SAT Range
  • Mercy 1020/1230
  • Fisher 1120/1300
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mercy Test-free
  • Fisher Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mercy
  • Fisher
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mercy 16:1
  • Fisher 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mercy
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Fisher
    • Business (23%)
    • Education (22%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mercy 31%
  • Fisher 73%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mercy $42,200
  • Fisher $50,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mercy 40%
  • Fisher 74%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mercy $23,699
  • Fisher $23,900
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mercy $245
  • Fisher $247
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mercy 30%
  • Fisher 36%
  • % Women
  • Mercy 70%
  • Fisher 64%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mercy Very High
  • Fisher Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Mercy No
  • Fisher No
  • % White
  • Mercy 27%
  • Fisher 84%
  • % Asian
  • Mercy 4%
  • Fisher 4%
  • % Black
  • Mercy 23%
  • Fisher 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mercy 35%
  • Fisher 4%
  • % Native American
  • Mercy 0%
  • Fisher 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mercy 0%
  • Fisher 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mercy 2%
  • Fisher 2%
  • % International
  • Mercy 1%
  • Fisher 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mercy 7%
  • Fisher 2%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mercy 91%
  • Fisher 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mercy 6%
  • Fisher 6%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Mercy Yes
  • Fisher Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Mercy No
  • Fisher No
  • Meal Plan
  • Mercy Yes
  • Fisher Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Mercy Yes
  • Fisher Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Mercy Yes
  • Fisher Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY with St. John Fisher University in Rochester, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercy University is larger than Fisher based on total student enrollment (8,991 students vs. 3,693 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mercy University is located in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting); St. John Fisher University is in Rochester, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St. John Fisher University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy University 16:1; St. John Fisher University 11:1.

Mercy vs. Fisher Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy or Fisher? 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 Fisher ($15,200 vs. $30,540).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. John Fisher University are 2.2% lower than at Mercy University ($14,908 vs. $15,250).
  • St. John Fisher University is 80% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy (about $18,310 more per year; $41,190.00 vs. $22,880.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 80% higher at Fisher than at Mercy University (about $18,310 more per year; $41,190.00 vs. $22,880.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. John Fisher University than at Mercy University (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by St. John Fisher University students is 38.9% larger than aid received by Mercy University students ($24,530 vs. $17,664).

Mercy vs. Fisher Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercy or Fisher? 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 Fisher and Mercy.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. John Fisher University (1210) is 80 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
  • Incoming Fisher 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; St. John Fisher University 1120/1300.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 21/25; St. John Fisher University 23/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy - Test-free; Fisher - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman Fisher students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Mercy (3.19).
  • Mercy has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than Fisher (66.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Mercy vs. 20.3% at Fisher.

Mercy vs. Fisher Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy and Fisher? 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).

  • St. John Fisher University's six-year graduation rate (73%) is higher than Mercy University's (31%).
  • Graduates from St. John Fisher University earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Mercy graduates about ten years after starting college ($50,800 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercy University graduates have a $201 lower median loan debt than Fisher graduates ($23,699 vs. $23,900).
  • Among borrowers, Mercy graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Fisher graduates ($245 vs. $247).
  • More Fisher graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.