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Mount Mercy University
Mount Mercy University says yes to 82.5% of applicants. Focus less on getting in and more on what's below — starting with the $60,787 median earnings.
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Mount Mercy University sits in Cedar Rapids 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 Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing, where graduates median $75,613 four years out. 26.7% of undergraduates carry Pell grants — a plain read on who the campus actually serves. With 1,107 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 72.8% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 19 and 25 on the ACT composite. Put your own practice estimate on Mount Mercy University's range with the ACT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Mount Mercy University received 1,436 applications and admitted 1,131 (78.8%), with 208 enrolling.
Mount Mercy University is test-optional — scores count when submitted, none required. Mount Mercy University's submitters' middle half scored 19–25 on the ACT; read that as the stronger-tester end of the admitted class.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACT Composite | 19 | 22 | 25 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
How Mount Mercy University compares
| Mount Mercy University | Iowa median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 82.5% | 80.1% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $40,878 | $36,684 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $60,787 | $55,396 | $53,781 |
Earnings data favors Mount Mercy University: $60,787 median at year ten, versus $55,396 across Iowa institutions.
Cost, size & completion
Tuition runs $40,878 regardless of where you're from. At Mount Mercy University, that sticker is a starting point for aid talks — not what the median family pays.
Enrollment sits at 1,107 — Mount Mercy University is one of the smaller campuses on this site.
57.7% graduate within six years. Roughly 42% don't — ask a Mount Mercy University tour guide what happens to them and watch the answer carefully.
Top majors by earnings at Mount Mercy University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $75,613 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $64,408 |
| Human Resources Management and Services | $61,772 |
| Accounting and Related Services | $59,763 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $57,928 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | $57,378 |
| Marketing | $57,111 |
| Biology, General | $49,685 |
| Social Work | $49,542 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $47,713 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $46,517 |
| Psychology, General | $45,951 |
Median earnings for these 12 Mount Mercy University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $60,787 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 33 additional Mount Mercy University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Mount Mercy University?
The middle 50% of Mount Mercy University's submitters earned ACT composites of 19–25; no GPA cutoff is published.
What is Mount Mercy University's acceptance rate?
78.8% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 1,131 admitted from 1,436 applicants.
How much does Mount Mercy University cost?
At Mount Mercy University, published tuition is $40,878 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Mount Mercy University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Mount Mercy University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $60,787 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Iowa
- Morningside University — 71% admitted
- Northwestern College — 80.4% admitted
- Luther College — 71.5% admitted
- Saint Ambrose University — 77.3% 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.