TU vs. Mercy

Deciding between Towson University and Mercy University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Towson University
Mercy University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TU Towson, MD
  • Mercy Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • Setting
  • TU Small City
  • Mercy Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • TU 19,401
  • Mercy 8,991
  • Type
  • TU Public 4 Year
  • Mercy Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TU #396
  • Mercy #866
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TU -
  • Mercy -
  • Status
  • TU Non-profit
  • Mercy Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TU
  • Mercy

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TU $11,728
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TU $29,820
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Room & Board
  • TU $16,260
  • Mercy $15,250
  • Average Net Price
  • TU $16,653
  • Mercy $15,200
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TU $11,820
  • Mercy $17,664
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TU 73%
  • Mercy 99%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TU 19,777
  • Mercy 8,642
  • Admitted
  • TU 16,212
  • Mercy 7,418
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TU 82%
  • Mercy 85.8%
  • Enrolled
  • TU 18.2%
  • Mercy 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TU 1090
  • Mercy 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • TU 23
  • Mercy 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • TU 3.69
  • Mercy 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TU A-
  • Mercy B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • TU Moderate
  • Mercy Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • TU
  • Mercy
  • ACT Range
  • TU 19/27
  • Mercy 21/25
  • SAT Range
  • TU 950/1235
  • Mercy 1020/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TU Test optional
  • Mercy Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • TU Apr 1, 2027
  • Mercy

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TU 14:1
  • Mercy 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TU
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (11%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
  • Mercy
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TU 64%
  • Mercy 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TU $53,500
  • Mercy $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TU 69%
  • Mercy 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TU $17,750
  • Mercy $23,699
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TU $183
  • Mercy $245

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TU 38%
  • Mercy 30%
  • % Women
  • TU 62%
  • Mercy 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TU Medium
  • Mercy Very High
  • HBCU
  • TU No
  • Mercy No
  • % White
  • TU 61%
  • Mercy 27%
  • % Asian
  • TU 5%
  • Mercy 4%
  • % Black
  • TU 18%
  • Mercy 23%
  • % Hispanic
  • TU 6%
  • Mercy 35%
  • % Native American
  • TU 0%
  • Mercy 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TU 0%
  • Mercy 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TU 4%
  • Mercy 2%
  • % International
  • TU 2%
  • Mercy 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TU 3%
  • Mercy 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TU 88%
  • Mercy 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TU 11%
  • Mercy 6%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • TU Yes
  • Mercy Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • TU No
  • Mercy No
  • Meal Plan
  • TU Yes
  • Mercy Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • TU No
  • Mercy Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • TU Yes
  • Mercy Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Towson University in Towson, MD with Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Towson University is larger than Mercy based on total student enrollment (19,401 students vs. 8,991 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Towson University is located in Towson, MD (Small City setting); Mercy University is in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • Towson University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Towson University 14:1; Mercy University 16:1.

TU vs. Mercy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TU or Mercy? 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 University than TU ($15,200 vs. $16,653).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy University are 6.2% lower than at Towson University ($15,250 vs. $16,260).
  • Mercy University is 95.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than TU (about $11,152 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $11,728.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 30.3% higher at TU than at Mercy University (about $6,940 more per year; $29,820.00 vs. $22,880.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy University than at Towson University (99% vs. 73%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 49.4% larger than aid received by Towson University students ($17,664 vs. $11,820).

TU vs. Mercy Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TU or Mercy? 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 and TU.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Mercy University (1130) is 40 points higher than at TU (1090).
  • Incoming TU students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 23) as students at Mercy (23).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Towson University 950/1235; Mercy University 1020/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Towson University 19/27; Mercy University 21/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TU - Test optional; Mercy - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TU Apr 1, 2027.
  • Enrolled freshman TU students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Mercy (3.19).
  • Mercy has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than TU (82%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at TU vs. 14.3% at Mercy.

TU vs. Mercy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TU and Mercy? 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.

  • Towson University's six-year graduation rate (64%) is higher than Mercy University's (31%).
  • Graduates from Towson University earn a median of about $11,300 more per year than Mercy graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,500 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Towson University graduates have a $5,949 lower median loan debt than Mercy graduates ($17,750 vs. $23,699).
  • Among borrowers, TU graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercy graduates ($183 vs. $245).
  • More TU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 40%)

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.