Mount Mercy College vs. Peru State College

Should I go to Mount Mercy University or Peru State College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mount Mercy College or Peru State College 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. Peru State College comparison
Mount Mercy University Peru State College College 3 College 4
Mount Mercy University
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Overview

Mount Mercy College Peru State College
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Peru, NE
Setting Midsize City Distant Rural
Enrollment 1,526 1,799
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtmercy.edu peru.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mount Mercy College Peru State College
Tuition (In State) $36,606 $5,760
Tuition (Out of State) $36,606 $5,760
Room & Board $10,636 $9,600
Avg Net Price $24,078 $12,618
Avg Grant Aid $27,288 $9,427
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Mount Mercy College Peru State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 -
Admitted 1,181 -
Acceptance Rate 75.3% Open
Enrolled % 19% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.5 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Mount Mercy College Peru State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Education (38%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (2%)

Outcomes

Mount Mercy College Peru State College
Graduation Rate 60% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $38,000
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $20,975
Median Loan Payment $230 $216

Diversity

Mount Mercy College Peru State College
% Men 36% 39%
% Women 64% 61%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 78%
% Black 7% 9%
% Hispanic 2% 6%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 1%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

Mount Mercy College Peru State College
% In-State 60% 56%
% Out-of-State 28% 40%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Peru State College is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,799 students vs. 1,526 students)

Mount Mercy College vs. Peru State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or Peru State College?

  • Mount Mercy University is 535.5% more expensive to attend than Peru State College for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $5,760.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 535.5% higher at Mount Mercy College than Peru State College ($36,606.00 vs. $5,760.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Peru State College than Mount Mercy College ($12,618 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Peru State College are 10.8% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($9,600 vs. $10,636)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Peru State College (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 189.5% larger than aid received Peru State College ($27,288 vs. $9,427)

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

Mount Mercy College vs. Peru State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mount Mercy College or Peru State College? 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 Peru State College and Mount Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Peru State College (60% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $7,900 more per year than Peru State College graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $38,000)
  • Peru State College students graduate with a $1,275 lower median federal student loan debt than Mount Mercy College graduates. ($20,975 vs. $22,250)
  • Peru State College graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Mount Mercy College graduates. ($216 vs. $230)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Peru State College students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 55%)

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