Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Mount Mercy College

Comparable Facts

Compare Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, FL with Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, IA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Ringling College of Art and Design is larger than Mount Mercy College based on total student enrollment (1,666 students vs. 1,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Ringling College of Art and Design is located in Sarasota, FL (Small City setting); Mount Mercy University is in Cedar Rapids, IA (Midsize City setting).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mount Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Ringling College of Art and Design 11:1; Mount Mercy University 14:1.

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? 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 Mount Mercy University than Ringling College of Art and Design ($24,347 vs. $62,012).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Mercy University are 39.3% lower than at Ringling College of Art and Design ($11,600 vs. $19,100).
• Ringling College of Art and Design is 41.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mount Mercy College (about $17,022 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.6% higher at Ringling College of Art and Design than at Mount Mercy University (about $17,022 more per year; $57,900.00 vs. $40,878.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Ringling College of Art and Design as at Mount Mercy University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Mercy University students is 66.7% larger than aid received by Ringling College of Art and Design students ($30,735 vs. $18,442).

Ringling College of Art and Design vs. Mount Mercy College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Ringling College of Art and Design or Mount Mercy College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mount Mercy College and Ringling College of Art and Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Ringling College of Art and Design - Test-free; Mount Mercy College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Mount Mercy College Aug 15, 2027.
• 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 (82.5%) than Ringling College of Art and Design (69.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.5% at Ringling College of Art and Design vs. 27.9% at Mount Mercy College.

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

How do outcomes compare for Ringling College of Art and Design and Mount Mercy College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Ringling College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (66%) is higher than Mount Mercy University's (60%).
• Graduates from Mount Mercy University earn a median of about $4,100 more per year than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,900 vs. $41,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Mercy University graduates have a $4,750 lower median loan debt than Ringling College of Art and Design graduates ($22,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Mount Mercy College graduates have an estimated $49 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.