Mount Mercy College vs. UIU

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

Mount Mercy College UIU
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Fayette, IA
Setting Midsize City Remote Rural
Enrollment 1,526 3,072
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #737
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtmercy.edu uiu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mount Mercy College UIU
Tuition (In State) $36,606 $32,589
Tuition (Out of State) $36,606 $32,589
Room & Board $10,636 $9,644
Avg Net Price $24,078 $24,563
Avg Grant Aid $27,288 $25,788
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Mount Mercy College UIU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 1,405
Admitted 1,181 762
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 54.2%
Enrolled % 19% 28.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.34
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 890/1050
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Mount Mercy College UIU
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Human Services (17%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

Mount Mercy College UIU
Graduation Rate 60% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $42,100
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $230 $248

Diversity

Mount Mercy College UIU
% Men 36% 41%
% Women 64% 59%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 66%
% Black 7% 19%
% Hispanic 2% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 3%

Students

Mount Mercy College UIU
% In-State 60% 49%
% Out-of-State 28% 48%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Upper Iowa University is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (3,072 students vs. 1,526 students)

Mount Mercy College vs. UIU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mount Mercy College or UIU?

  • Mount Mercy University is 12.3% more expensive to attend than UIU for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $32,589.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 12.3% higher at Mount Mercy College than Upper Iowa University ($36,606.00 vs. $32,589.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than UIU ($24,078 vs. $24,563)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Upper Iowa University are 10.3% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($9,644 vs. $10,636)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University as Upper Iowa University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 5.8% larger than aid received Upper Iowa University ($27,288 vs. $25,788)

Mount Mercy College vs. UIU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mount Mercy University (990) is 60 points higher than at UIU (930)
  • Incoming Mount Mercy College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at UIU (20)
  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at UIU (3.34)
  • Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than UIU (54.2%)

Mount Mercy College vs. UIU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mount Mercy College or UIU? 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 UIU and Mount Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than Upper Iowa University (60% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $3,800 more per year than UIU graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $42,100)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than UIU graduates. ($22,250 vs. $24,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than UIU graduates. ($230 vs. $248)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UIU students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 50%)

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