Mount Mercy College vs. CCS

Comparable Facts

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

College for Creative Studies is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,433 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Mount Mercy College vs. CCS Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or CCS? 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 Mount Mercy University than CCS ($24,347 vs. $36,055).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 24% lower than at College for Creative Studies ($11,600 vs. $15,272).
• College for Creative Studies is 30.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $12,472 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.5% higher at CCS than at Mount Mercy University (about $12,472 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University than at College for Creative Studies (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 2.1% larger than aid received by College for Creative Studies students ($30,735 vs. $30,108).

Mount Mercy College vs. CCS Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Mercy College - Test optional; CCS - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at CCS (3.19).
• CCS has a higher acceptance rate (91.9%) than Mount Mercy College (82.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at Mount Mercy College vs. 24.9% at CCS.

Mount Mercy College vs. CCS Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Mercy College and CCS? 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 College for Creative Studies's (57%).
• Graduates from College for Creative Studies earn a median of about $200 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,100 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than CCS graduates ($22,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CCS graduates ($230 vs. $279).
• More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CCS 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.