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Mercyhurst University
Mercyhurst University says yes to 81% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $47,452 median earnings.
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Mercyhurst University sits in Erie proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. The school maintains its Roman Catholic affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations, where graduates median $86,597 four years out. 31.3% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 2,191 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 79.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Mercyhurst University won't look at test scores — here the GPA calculator is the tool that matters. Bring your saved semester numbers and see what they average.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Mercyhurst University received 3,500 applications and admitted 2,913 (83.2%), with 571 enrolling.
Leave the SAT prep out of this one — test scores are disregarded entirely. Mercyhurst University's 81% admission rate turned on grades and application strength.
How Mercyhurst University compares
| Mercyhurst University | Pennsylvania median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 81% | 82% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $45,770 | $33,730 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $47,452 | $62,101 | $53,781 |
At $47,452, ten-year earnings trail the state median ($62,101). Look at Mercyhurst University's major-level rows below before reading too much into the campus-wide number.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $45,770 regardless of where you're from. At Mercyhurst University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
At 2,191 undergrads, Mercyhurst University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.
60.2% graduate within six years. Roughly 40% don't — ask a Mercyhurst University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Mercyhurst University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | $86,597 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $86,596 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | $83,812 |
| Political Science and Government | $76,154 |
| Marketing | $74,187 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $72,411 |
| Biology, General | $65,000 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $63,128 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | $61,066 |
| Security Science and Technology | $55,665 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $54,902 |
| Public Health | $54,182 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $53,812 |
| Special Education and Teaching | $49,638 |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | $47,652 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $45,411 |
| Psychology, General | $43,694 |
| Dance | $41,049 |
Median earnings for these 18 Mercyhurst University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $47,452 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 42 additional Mercyhurst University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University doesn't look at test scores; its 81% admission rate turned on transcripts, coursework rigor and the application itself.
What is Mercyhurst University's acceptance rate?
83.2% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 2,913 admitted from 3,500 applicants.
How much does Mercyhurst University cost?
At Mercyhurst University, published tuition is $45,770 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Mercyhurst University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Mercyhurst University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $47,452 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Pennsylvania
- Messiah University — 79% admitted
- Vet Tech Institute — 77.5% admitted
- Misericordia University — 70.9% admitted
- Marywood University — 60.6% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.