Mount Mercy College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University

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

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Marshall, MN
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 1,526 6,930
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #948
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtmercy.edu smsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
Tuition (In State) $36,606 $8,840
Tuition (Out of State) $36,606 $8,840
Room & Board $10,636 $9,258
Avg Net Price $24,078 $15,004
Avg Grant Aid $27,288 $7,389
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 94%

Admission

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 1,558
Admitted 1,181 1,427
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 91.6%
Enrolled % 19% 22.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.21
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/23
SAT Range 935/1102
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 Aug 18, 2025

Academics

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Business (39%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (4%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
Graduation Rate 60% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $41,200
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $21,678
Median Loan Payment $230 $224

Diversity

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
% Men 36% 38%
% Women 64% 62%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 81% 80%
% Black 7% 5%
% Hispanic 2% 4%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
% In-State 60% 74%
% Out-of-State 28% 20%

Campus

Mount Mercy College Southwest Minnesota State University
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

  • Southwest Minnesota State University is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (6,930 students vs. 1,526 students)

Mount Mercy College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or Southwest Minnesota State University?

  • Mount Mercy University is 314.1% more expensive to attend than Southwest Minnesota State University for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 314.1% higher at Mount Mercy College than Southwest Minnesota State University ($36,606.00 vs. $8,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southwest Minnesota State University than Mount Mercy College ($15,004 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southwest Minnesota State University are 14.9% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($9,258 vs. $10,636)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Southwest Minnesota State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 269.3% larger than aid received Southwest Minnesota State University ($27,288 vs. $7,389)

Mount Mercy College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Southwest Minnesota State University (1008) is 18 points higher than at Mount Mercy College (990)
  • Incoming Southwest Minnesota State University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (22) than students at Mount Mercy College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Southwest Minnesota State University (3.21)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University has a higher acceptance rate (91.6%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)

Mount Mercy College vs. Southwest Minnesota State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mount Mercy College or Southwest Minnesota State 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 Southwest Minnesota State University and Mount Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Southwest Minnesota State University (60% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $4,700 more per year than Southwest Minnesota State University graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $41,200)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University students graduate with a $572 lower median federal student loan debt than Mount Mercy College graduates. ($21,678 vs. $22,250)
  • Southwest Minnesota State University graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Mount Mercy College graduates. ($224 vs. $230)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southwest Minnesota State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 66%)

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