Mount Mercy College vs. Shaw University

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

Mount Mercy College Shaw University
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Raleigh, NC
Setting Midsize City Large City
Enrollment 1,526 1,067
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtmercy.edu shawu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mount Mercy College Shaw University
Tuition (In State) $36,606 $11,808
Tuition (Out of State) $36,606 $11,808
Room & Board $10,636 $8,514
Avg Net Price $24,078 $14,204
Avg Grant Aid $27,288 $15,548
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 87%

Admission

Mount Mercy College Shaw University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 2,435
Admitted 1,181 1,486
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 61%
Enrolled % 19% 13.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 2.6
Typical High School Grades B+ C+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025 Jul 30, 2025

Academics

Mount Mercy College Shaw University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Human Services (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (10%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Mount Mercy College Shaw University
Graduation Rate 60% 27%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $29,000
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 15%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $38,000
Median Loan Payment $230 $392

Diversity

Mount Mercy College Shaw University
% Men 36% 47%
% Women 64% 53%
Racial Diversity Very Low High
HBCU No Yes
% White 81% 1%
% Black 7% 58%
% Hispanic 2% 0%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 0%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 3% 39%

Students

Mount Mercy College Shaw University
% In-State 60% 55%
% Out-of-State 28% 34%

Campus

Mount Mercy College Shaw 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

  • Mount Mercy University is larger than than Shaw University based on total student enrollment (1,526 students vs. 1,067 students)

Mount Mercy College vs. Shaw University Cost Comparison

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

  • Mount Mercy University is 210% more expensive to attend than Shaw University for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 210% higher at Mount Mercy College than Shaw University ($36,606.00 vs. $11,808.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shaw University than Mount Mercy College ($14,204 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shaw University are 24.9% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($8,514 vs. $10,636)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Shaw University (100% vs. 87%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 75.5% larger than aid received Shaw University ($27,288 vs. $15,548)

Mount Mercy College vs. Shaw University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.9 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Shaw University (2.6)
  • Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Shaw University (61%)

Mount Mercy College vs. Shaw University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mount Mercy College or Shaw 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 Shaw University and Mount Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Shaw University (60% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $16,900 more per year than Shaw University graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $29,000)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $15,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Shaw University graduates. ($22,250 vs. $38,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $162 less per month on federal student loans than Shaw University graduates. ($230 vs. $392)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shaw University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 15%)

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