VCM vs. Gwynedd Mercy College

Should I go to VanderCook College of Music or Gwynedd Mercy College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if VCM or Gwynedd 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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VanderCook College of Music vs. Gwynedd Mercy College comparison
VanderCook College of Music Gwynedd Mercy College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 VCM Gwynedd Mercy College
Location Chicago, IL Gwynedd Valley, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 340 2,165
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #510
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website vandercook.edu gmc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 VCM Gwynedd Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $28,640 $37,140
Tuition (Out of State) $28,640 $37,140
Room & Board $7,500 $14,142
Avg Net Price $16,601 $26,733
Avg Grant Aid $22,249 $25,995
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 VCM Gwynedd Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 37 1,111
Admitted 36 1,040
Acceptance Rate 97.3% 93.6%
Enrolled % 47.2% 17.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.1 3.34
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 890/1160 1048/1180
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2026 Aug 20, 2026

Academics

 VCM Gwynedd Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 4:1 9:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (100%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (2%)
  • Psychology (2%)

Outcomes

 VCM Gwynedd Mercy College
Graduation Rate 45% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) N/A $56,600
Making Student Loan Payments 66% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

 VCM Gwynedd Mercy College
% Men 32% 7%
% Women 39% 25%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 57%
% Black 8% 23%
% Hispanic 21% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 0%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 10%

Students

 VCM Gwynedd Mercy College
% In-State 58% 80%
% Out-of-State 42% 20%

Campus

 VCM Gwynedd 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

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is larger than than VCM based on total student enrollment (2,165 students vs. 340 students)

VCM vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, VCM or Gwynedd Mercy College?

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is 29.7% more expensive to attend than VCM for in-state tuition ($37,140.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 29.7% higher at Gwynedd Mercy College than VanderCook College of Music ($37,140.00 vs. $28,640.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at VanderCook College of Music than Gwynedd Mercy College ($16,601 vs. $26,733)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at VanderCook College of Music are 88.6% lower than costs at Gwynedd Mercy College ($7,500 vs. $14,142)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at VanderCook College of Music as Gwynedd Mercy College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gwynedd Mercy College students is 16.8% larger than aid received VanderCook College of Music ($25,995 vs. $22,249)

VCM vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at VanderCook College of Music (1107) is 183 points higher than at Gwynedd Mercy College (924)
  • Incoming VCM students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Gwynedd Mercy College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Gwynedd Mercy College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at VCM (3.1)
  • VCM has a higher acceptance rate (97.3%) than Gwynedd Mercy College (93.6%)

VCM vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, VCM or Gwynedd 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 Gwynedd Mercy College and VCM.

  • The graduation rate at Gwynedd Mercy College is higher than VanderCook College of Music (52% vs. 45%)
  • Gwynedd Mercy College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than VCM graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Gwynedd Mercy College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than VCM graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More VCM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gwynedd Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 63%)

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