Mercy vs. SUNY Cortland

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercy University is larger than SUNY Cortland based on total student enrollment (8,991 students vs. 6,938 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mercy University is located in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
• Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercy University 16:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

Mercy vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercy or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland ($15,200 vs. $19,847).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy University are 2% lower than at State University of New York at Cortland ($15,250 vs. $15,560).
• Mercy University is 157.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $14,006 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.8% higher at Mercy than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $4,096 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy University than at State University of New York at Cortland (99% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 114% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($17,664 vs. $8,254).

Mercy vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at State University of New York at Cortland (1170) is 40 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
• Incoming SUNY Cortland students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (24 vs. 23 at Mercy).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 1020/1230; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercy University 21/25; State University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercy - Test-free; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.51 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Mercy (3.19).
• Mercy has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 14.3% at Mercy vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

Mercy vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercy and SUNY Cortland? 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).

• State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Mercy University's (31%).
• Graduates from State University of New York at Cortland earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than Mercy graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $2,199 lower median loan debt than Mercy graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,699).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercy graduates ($222 vs. $245).
• More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.