Mount Mercy College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (4,505 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
• Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Mercy University 14:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Mount Mercy College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than Mount Mercy College ($22,032 vs. $24,347).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 3.4% lower than at Mount Mercy University ($11,200 vs. $11,600).
• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is 10.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $4,202 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.3% higher at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than at Mount Mercy University (about $4,202 more per year; $45,080.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University as at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 15% larger than aid received by Mount Mercy University students ($35,348 vs. $30,735).

Mount Mercy College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Mercy College or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Mount Mercy College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Mercy College - Test optional; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (3.49).
• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Mount Mercy College (82.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at Mount Mercy College vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Mount Mercy College vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Mercy College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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).

• Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's six-year graduation rate (62%) is higher than Mount Mercy University's (60%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates about ten years after starting college ($48,400 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($22,250 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates ($230 vs. $240).
• More Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.