Mount Mercy College vs. William Penn University

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

Mount Mercy College William Penn University
Location Cedar Rapids, IA Oskaloosa, IA
Setting Midsize City Remote Town
Enrollment 1,526 1,473
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #957
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Friends - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mtmercy.edu wmpenn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mount Mercy College William Penn University
Tuition (In State) $36,606 $27,800
Tuition (Out of State) $36,606 $27,800
Room & Board $10,636 $7,528
Avg Net Price $24,078 $20,922
Avg Grant Aid $27,288 $19,052
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

Mount Mercy College William Penn University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,569 1,264
Admitted 1,181 729
Acceptance Rate 75.3% 57.7%
Enrolled % 19% 43.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.5 3.0
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/21
SAT Range 850/1080
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

Academics

Mount Mercy College William Penn University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Business (45%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (11%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Mount Mercy College William Penn University
Graduation Rate 60% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,900 $44,600
Making Student Loan Payments 71% 49%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,250 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $230 $248

Diversity

Mount Mercy College William Penn University
% Men 36% 50%
% Women 64% 50%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 61%
% Black 7% 18%
% Hispanic 2% 8%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 3% 4%

Students

Mount Mercy College William Penn University
% In-State 60% 36%
% Out-of-State 28% 59%

Campus

Mount Mercy College William Penn 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 William Penn University based on total student enrollment (1,526 students vs. 1,473 students)

Mount Mercy College vs. William Penn University Cost Comparison

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

  • Mount Mercy University is 31.7% more expensive to attend than William Penn University for in-state tuition ($36,606.00 vs. $27,800.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.7% higher at Mount Mercy College than William Penn University ($36,606.00 vs. $27,800.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Penn University than Mount Mercy College ($20,922 vs. $24,078)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Penn University are 41.3% lower than costs at Mount Mercy University ($7,528 vs. $10,636)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than William Penn University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 43.2% larger than aid received William Penn University ($27,288 vs. $19,052)

Mount Mercy College vs. William Penn University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at William Penn University (3.0)
  • Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than William Penn University (57.7%)

Mount Mercy College vs. William Penn University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mount Mercy College or William Penn 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 William Penn University and Mount Mercy College.

  • The graduation rate at Mount Mercy College is higher than William Penn University (60% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $1,300 more per year than William Penn University graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $44,600)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than William Penn University graduates. ($22,250 vs. $24,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than William Penn University graduates. ($230 vs. $248)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former William Penn University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 49%)

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