Mount Mercy College vs. Claflin University

Should I go to Mount Mercy University or Claflin University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mount Mercy College or Claflin University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Mount Mercy University vs. Claflin University comparison
Mount Mercy University Claflin University College 3 College 4
Mount Mercy University Claflin University
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Overview

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Orangeburg, SC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 1,526 1,830
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1000
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtmercy.edu claflin.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
Tuition (In State) $36,606 $16,476
Tuition (Out of State) $36,606 $16,476
Room & Board $10,636 $9,480
Avg Net Price $24,078 $19,951
Avg Grant Aid $27,288 $13,707
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 93%

Admission

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 7,568
Admitted 1,181 5,903
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 78%
Enrolled % 19% 6.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.28
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/18
SAT Range 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Business (29%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Communication (6%)

Outcomes

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
Graduation Rate 60% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $30,700
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 25%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $32,184
Median Loan Payment $230 $332

Diversity

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
% Men 36% 31%
% Women 64% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 81% 1%
% Black 7% 92%
% Hispanic 2% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 0%

Students

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
% In-State 60% 82%
% Out-of-State 28% 15%

Campus

Mount Mercy College Claflin University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Claflin University is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,830 students vs. 1,526 students)

Mount Mercy College vs. Claflin University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or Claflin University?

  • Mount Mercy University is 122.2% more expensive to attend than Claflin University for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $16,476.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 122.2% higher at Mount Mercy College than Claflin University ($36,606.00 vs. $16,476.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Claflin University than Mount Mercy College ($19,951 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Claflin University are 12.2% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($9,480 vs. $10,636)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Claflin University (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 99.1% larger than aid received Claflin University ($27,288 vs. $13,707)

Mount Mercy College vs. Claflin University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Mercy College or Claflin University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Claflin University or Mount Mercy College .

  • The average SAT score at Mount Mercy University (990) is 175 points higher than at Claflin University (815)
  • Incoming Mount Mercy College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at Claflin University (17)
  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Claflin University (3.28)
  • Claflin University has a higher acceptance rate (78%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)

Mount Mercy College vs. Claflin University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mount Mercy College or Claflin University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Claflin University and Mount Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Claflin University (60% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $15,200 more per year than Claflin University graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $30,700)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $9,934 lower median federal student loan debt than Claflin University graduates. ($22,250 vs. $32,184)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $102 less per month on federal student loans than Claflin University graduates. ($230 vs. $332)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Claflin University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 25%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/