Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Mount Mercy College

Should I go to Ringling College of Art and Design or Mount Mercy University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Ringling College of Art and Design or Mount Mercy College 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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Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Mount Mercy University comparison
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Mount Mercy University
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Overview

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
Location Sarasota, FL Cedar Rapids, IA
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 1,705 1,526
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website ringling.edu mtmercy.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $48,100 $36,606
Tuition (Out of State) $48,100 $36,606
Room & Board $16,300 $10,636
Avg Net Price $55,752 $24,078
Avg Grant Aid $18,411 $27,288
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 100%

Admission

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,462 1,569
Admitted 1,593 1,181
Acceptance Rate 64.7% 75.3%
Enrolled % 26.1% 19%
Avg High School GPA 3.48 3.5
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Unavailable Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (84%)
  • Communications Technology (16%)
  • Business (44%)
  • Health Professions (22%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (4%)

Outcomes

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
Graduation Rate 66% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $41,800 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,250
Median Loan Payment $279 $230

Diversity

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
% Men 27% 36%
% Women 73% 64%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 49% 81%
% Black 3% 7%
% Hispanic 16% 2%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 15% 3%
% Unknown Race 4% 3%

Students

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
% In-State 24% 60%
% Out-of-State 54% 28%

Campus

Ringling College of Art and Design Mount Mercy College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Ringling College of Art and Design is larger than than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,705 students vs. 1,526 students)

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Mount Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Ringling College of Art and Design or Mount Mercy College?

  • Ringling College of Art and Design is 31.4% more expensive to attend than Mount Mercy College for in-state tuition ($48,100.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 31.4% higher at Ringling College of Art and Design than Mount Mercy University ($48,100.00 vs. $36,606.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mount Mercy University than Ringling College of Art and Design ($24,078 vs. $55,752)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 53.3% lower than costs at Ringling College of Art and Design ($10,636 vs. $16,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mount Mercy University than Ringling College of Art and Design (100% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 48.2% larger than aid received Ringling College of Art and Design ($27,288 vs. $18,411)

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Mount Mercy College students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Ringling College of Art and Design (3.48)
  • Mount Mercy College has a higher acceptance rate (75.3%) than Ringling College of Art and Design (64.7%)

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Mount Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Ringling College of Art and Design or Mount Mercy College? 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 Mount Mercy College and Ringling College of Art and Design.

  • The graduation rate at Ringling College of Art and Design is higher than Mount Mercy University (66% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn on average $4,100 more per year than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $41,800)
  • Mount Mercy University students graduate with a $4,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates. ($22,250 vs. $27,000)
  • Mount Mercy College graduates are paying $49 less per month on federal student loans than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates. ($230 vs. $279)
  • More Mount Mercy College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ringling College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 67%)

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