Mount Mercy College vs. Willamette University

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

Mount Mercy College Willamette University
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Salem, OR
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,526 1,909
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtmercy.edu willamette.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mount Mercy College Willamette University
Tuition (In State) $36,606 $45,000
Tuition (Out of State) $36,606 $45,000
Room & Board $10,636 $14,340
Avg Net Price $24,078 $32,957
Avg Grant Aid $27,288 $27,700
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Mount Mercy College Willamette University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 3,994
Admitted 1,181 3,219
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 80.6%
Enrolled % 19% 16.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.97
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition
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 Jan 15, 2025

Academics

Mount Mercy College Willamette University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Social Sciences (28%)
  • Foreign Languages (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Mount Mercy College Willamette University
Graduation Rate 60% 77%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $54,300
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 80%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $230 $268

Diversity

Mount Mercy College Willamette University
% Men 36% 43%
% Women 64% 57%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 62%
% Black 7% 2%
% Hispanic 2% 12%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 10%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Mount Mercy College Willamette University
% In-State 60% 25%
% Out-of-State 28% 73%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Willamette University is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,909 students vs. 1,526 students)

Mount Mercy College vs. Willamette University Cost Comparison

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

  • Willamette University is 22.9% more expensive to attend than Mount Mercy College for in-state tuition ($45,000.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.9% higher at Willamette University than Mount Mercy University ($45,000.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than Willamette University ($24,078 vs. $32,957)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 34.8% lower than costs at Willamette University ($10,636 vs. $14,340)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University as Willamette University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Willamette University students is 1.5% larger than aid received Mount Mercy University ($27,700 vs. $27,288)

Mount Mercy College vs. Willamette University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Willamette University (1228) is 238 points higher than at Mount Mercy College (990)
  • Incoming Willamette University students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Mount Mercy College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Willamette University students have a 0.47 point higher average high school GPA (3.97) than students at Mount Mercy College (3.5)
  • Willamette University has a higher acceptance rate (80.6%) than Mount Mercy College (75.3%)

Mount Mercy College vs. Willamette University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Willamette University is higher than Mount Mercy University (77% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Willamette University earn on average $8,400 more per year than Mount Mercy College graduates after ten years. ($54,300 vs. $45,900)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $3,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Willamette University graduates. ($22,250 vs. $26,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $38 less per month on federal student loans than Willamette University graduates. ($230 vs. $268)
  • More Willamette University 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/