University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Mercy

Deciding between University of Massachusetts Boston 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.

University of Massachusetts Boston
Mercy University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Boston, MA
  • Mercy Dobbs Ferry, NY
  • Setting
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Large City
  • Mercy Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15,575
  • Mercy 8,991
  • Type
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Public 4 Year
  • Mercy Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston #438
  • Mercy #866
  • Religious Affiliation
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston -
  • Mercy -
  • Status
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Non-profit
  • Mercy Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • Mercy
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $15,908
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $38,125
  • Mercy $22,880
  • Room & Board
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $19,128
  • Mercy $15,250
  • Average Net Price
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $17,768
  • Mercy $15,200
  • Average Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $14,042
  • Mercy $17,664
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 88%
  • Mercy 99%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 21,262
  • Mercy 8,642
  • Admitted
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 17,813
  • Mercy 7,418
  • Acceptance Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 83.8%
  • Mercy 85.8%
  • Enrolled
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12.3%
  • Mercy 14.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1180
  • Mercy 1130
  • Typical ACT score
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 25
  • Mercy 23
  • Average High School GPA
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3.35
  • Mercy 3.19
  • Typical High School Grades
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston B+
  • Mercy B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Challenging
  • Mercy Moderate
  • Applicant Competition
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
  • Mercy
  • ACT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 22/29
  • Mercy 21/25
  • SAT Range
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 1070/1290
  • Mercy 1020/1230
  • Submit Test Scores
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Test optional
  • Mercy Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027
  • Mercy
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 15:1
  • Mercy 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston
    • Business (20%)
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Mercy
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 40%
  • Mercy 31%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $51,200
  • Mercy $42,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • Mercy 40%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $22,060
  • Mercy $23,699
  • Median Loan Payment
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston $228
  • Mercy $245
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 42%
  • Mercy 30%
  • % Women
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 58%
  • Mercy 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Very High
  • Mercy Very High
  • HBCU
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Mercy No
  • % White
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 36%
  • Mercy 27%
  • % Asian
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • Mercy 4%
  • % Black
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 16%
  • Mercy 23%
  • % Hispanic
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 14%
  • Mercy 35%
  • % Native American
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • Mercy 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 0%
  • Mercy 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 3%
  • Mercy 2%
  • % International
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 12%
  • Mercy 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 7%
  • Mercy 7%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 81%
  • Mercy 91%
  • % Out-of-State
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston 11%
  • Mercy 6%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Mercy Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Mercy No
  • Meal Plan
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Mercy Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston No
  • Mercy Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • University of Massachusetts-Boston Yes
  • Mercy Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Massachusetts Boston in Boston, MA with Mercy University in Dobbs Ferry, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Massachusetts Boston is larger than Mercy based on total student enrollment (15,575 students vs. 8,991 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Massachusetts Boston is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Mercy University is in Dobbs Ferry, NY (Large Suburban setting).
  • University of Massachusetts Boston is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercy University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Massachusetts Boston 15:1; Mercy University 16:1.

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Mercy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Massachusetts-Boston 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 University of Massachusetts-Boston ($15,200 vs. $17,768).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy University are 20.3% lower than at University of Massachusetts Boston ($15,250 vs. $19,128).
  • Mercy University is 43.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Massachusetts-Boston (about $6,972 more per year; $22,880.00 vs. $15,908.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 66.6% higher at University of Massachusetts-Boston than at Mercy University (about $15,245 more per year; $38,125.00 vs. $22,880.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercy University than at University of Massachusetts Boston (99% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy University students is 25.8% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Boston students ($17,664 vs. $14,042).

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Mercy Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Massachusetts-Boston or Mercy? 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 Mercy and University of Massachusetts-Boston.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Massachusetts Boston (1180) is 50 points higher than at Mercy (1130).
  • Incoming University of Massachusetts-Boston students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at Mercy).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Boston 1070/1290; Mercy University 1020/1230.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Massachusetts Boston 22/29; Mercy University 21/25.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: University of Massachusetts-Boston - Test optional; Mercy - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: University of Massachusetts-Boston Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman University of Massachusetts-Boston students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.35) than students at Mercy (3.19).
  • Mercy has a higher acceptance rate (85.8%) than University of Massachusetts-Boston (83.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. 14.3% at Mercy.

University of Massachusetts-Boston vs. Mercy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for University of Massachusetts-Boston and Mercy? 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).

  • University of Massachusetts Boston's six-year graduation rate (40%) is higher than Mercy University's (31%).
  • Graduates from University of Massachusetts Boston earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Mercy graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,200 vs. $42,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Boston graduates have a $1,639 lower median loan debt than Mercy graduates ($22,060 vs. $23,699).
  • Among borrowers, University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates have an estimated $17 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercy graduates ($228 vs. $245).
  • More University of Massachusetts-Boston graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.