Mount Mercy College vs. AQ

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA with Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, MI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mount Mercy University is larger than AQ based on total student enrollment (1,417 students vs. 1,157 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting); Aquinas College is in Grand Rapids, MI (Midsize City setting).
• Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Mercy University 14:1; Aquinas College 10:1.

Mount Mercy College vs. AQ Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or AQ? 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 Aquinas College than Mount Mercy College ($18,018 vs. $24,347).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 0.7% lower than at Aquinas College ($11,600 vs. $11,680).
• Mount Mercy University is 1.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than AQ (about $660 more per year; $40,878.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 1.6% higher at Mount Mercy College than at Aquinas College (about $660 more per year; $40,878.00 vs. $40,218.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University as at Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Aquinas College students is 9.1% larger than aid received by Mount Mercy University students ($33,535 vs. $30,735).

Mount Mercy College vs. AQ Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Mercy College or AQ? 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 AQ and Mount Mercy College.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAquinas College 910/1140.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsAquinas College 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Mercy College - Test optional; AQ - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman AQ students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Mount Mercy College (3.5).
• AQ has a higher acceptance rate (89.9%) than Mount Mercy College (82.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at Mount Mercy College vs. 11.8% at AQ.

Mount Mercy College vs. AQ Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Mercy College and AQ? 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).

• Mount Mercy University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Aquinas College's (52%).
• Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn a median of about $5,900 more per year than AQ graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $40,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than AQ graduates ($22,250 vs. $26,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AQ graduates ($230 vs. $268).
• More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AQ students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 60%)

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.