Mount Mercy College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA with Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Gustavus Adolphus College is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,906 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting); Gustavus Adolphus College is in Saint Peter, MN (Remote Town setting).
• Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gustavus Adolphus College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Mercy University 14:1; Gustavus Adolphus College 12:1.

Mount Mercy College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or Gustavus Adolphus College? 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 Gustavus Adolphus College ($24,347 vs. $26,094).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 1.7% lower than at Gustavus Adolphus College ($11,600 vs. $11,804).
• Gustavus Adolphus College is 37.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $15,198 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 37.2% higher at Gustavus Adolphus College than at Mount Mercy University (about $15,198 more per year; $56,076.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University as at Gustavus Adolphus College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Gustavus Adolphus College students is 34.9% larger than aid received by Mount Mercy University students ($41,450 vs. $30,735).

Mount Mercy College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Mercy College - Test optional; Gustavus Adolphus College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027; Gustavus Adolphus College Apr 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Gustavus Adolphus College students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Mount Mercy College (3.5).
• Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than Gustavus Adolphus College (61%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at Mount Mercy College vs. 15.2% at Gustavus Adolphus College.

Mount Mercy College vs. Gustavus Adolphus College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• Gustavus Adolphus College's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than Mount Mercy University's (60%).
• Graduates from Gustavus Adolphus College earn a median of about $10,400 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,300 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 Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($22,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gustavus Adolphus College graduates ($230 vs. $279).
• More Gustavus Adolphus College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 71%)

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.