Pitzer vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences

Comparable Facts

Compare Pitzer College in Claremont, CA with Mercy College of Health Sciences in Des Moines, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pitzer College is larger than Mercy College of Health Sciences based on total student enrollment (1,242 students vs. 869 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Pitzer College is located in Claremont, CA (Large Suburban setting); Mercy College of Health Sciences is in Des Moines, IA (Midsize City setting).
• Pitzer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Pitzer College 10:1; Mercy College of Health Sciences 7:1.

Pitzer vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitzer or Mercy College of Health Sciences? 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 Mercy College of Health Sciences than Pitzer ($28,313 vs. $34,979).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College of Health Sciences are 54.9% lower than at Pitzer College ($10,000 vs. $22,150).
• Pitzer College is 269.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $47,528 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 269.1% higher at Pitzer than at Mercy College of Health Sciences (about $47,528 more per year; $65,192.00 vs. $17,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy College of Health Sciences than at Pitzer College (63% vs. 39%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pitzer College students is 522.1% larger than aid received by Mercy College of Health Sciences students ($51,487 vs. $8,276).

Pitzer vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitzer or Mercy College of Health Sciences? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mercy College of Health Sciences and Pitzer.

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresMercy College of Health Sciences 19/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitzer - Test-free; Mercy College of Health Sciences - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Pitzer Jan 1, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Pitzer students have a 0.81 point higher average high school GPA (3.93) than students at Mercy College of Health Sciences (3.12).
• Mercy College of Health Sciences has a higher acceptance rate (99.7%) than Pitzer (25.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 35.8% at Pitzer vs. 25.7% at Mercy College of Health Sciences.

Pitzer vs. Mercy College of Health Sciences Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitzer and Mercy College of Health Sciences? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Pitzer College's six-year graduation rate is 81%. Comparable graduation rate data is not available for Mercy College of Health Sciences.
• Graduates from Pitzer College earn a median of about $2,200 more per year than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,600 vs. $47,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pitzer College graduates have a $4,105 lower median loan debt than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates ($15,895 vs. $20,000).
• Among borrowers, Pitzer graduates have an estimated $42 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates ($164 vs. $206).
• More Pitzer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy College of Health Sciences students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 66%)

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.