Mount Mercy College vs. UW-La Crosse

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA with University of Wisconsin La Crosse in La Crosse, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Wisconsin La Crosse is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (10,446 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mount Mercy University is located in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting); University of Wisconsin La Crosse is in La Crosse, WI (Small City setting).
• Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Wisconsin La Crosse is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mount Mercy University 14:1; University of Wisconsin La Crosse 20:1.

Mount Mercy College vs. UW-La Crosse Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or UW-La Crosse? 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 University of Wisconsin La Crosse than Mount Mercy College ($14,712 vs. $24,347).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Wisconsin La Crosse are 25% lower than at Mount Mercy University ($8,702 vs. $11,600).
• Mount Mercy University is 305.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than UW-La Crosse (about $30,808 more per year; $40,878.00 vs. $10,070.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 109.4% higher at Mount Mercy College than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (about $21,361 more per year; $40,878.00 vs. $19,517.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Mercy University than at University of Wisconsin La Crosse (100% vs. 44%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 583.2% larger than aid received by University of Wisconsin La Crosse students ($30,735 vs. $4,499).

Mount Mercy College vs. UW-La Crosse Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mount Mercy College or UW-La Crosse? 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 UW-La Crosse and Mount Mercy College.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Wisconsin La Crosse 22/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mount Mercy College - Test optional; UW-La Crosse - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman UW-La Crosse students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at Mount Mercy College (3.5).
• Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (82.5%) than UW-La Crosse (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 27.9% at Mount Mercy College vs. 43.2% at UW-La Crosse.

Mount Mercy College vs. UW-La Crosse Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mount Mercy College and UW-La Crosse? 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).

• University of Wisconsin La Crosse's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Mount Mercy University's (60%).
• Graduates from University of Wisconsin La Crosse earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,500 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 UW-La Crosse graduates ($22,250 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than UW-La Crosse graduates ($230 vs. $240).
• More UW-La Crosse graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mount Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.