Gwynedd Mercy University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 1,067 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorMiddle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes52
Value40
Affordability26
Selectivity25
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 89.6%, Gwynedd Mercy University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
89.6%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1023 – 1186
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Gwynedd Mercy University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↓
1.5 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Gwynedd Mercy University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $27,483 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$27,483
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
25%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
55%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$40,122
Room & Board (on-campus)
$13,956
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,494
Books & Supplies
$1,500
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$4,896
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$10,644
Total Cost of Attendance
$55,786
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$21,995
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,617
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,269
$75,001 – $110,000
$27,992
Over $110,000
$32,456
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,25010%percentile
$10,50025%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$35,64790%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $26,000
↑ $1,000
No Pell $20,500
↓ $4,500
Dependent students $19,702
↓ $5,298
Independent students $25,000
—
Female students $24,250
↓ $750
Male students $20,500
↓ $4,500
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,250, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
53% of full-time students who enrolled at Gwynedd Mercy University graduate within six years, and 78% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
53%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
78%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Gwynedd Mercy University earn a median of $67,145 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$67,145
Earning > $25K
86%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$56,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$57,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$49,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$55,500
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$58,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
17.2 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 87% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Gwynedd Mercy University is home to 1,067 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 44% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,067
Part-Time
7%
First-Generation
44%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.0%672
Black 16.3%174
Hispanic 6.3%67
Asian 5.2%55
Other 3.6%38
International 0.2%2
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Gwynedd Mercy University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbGwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania
Housing
Partly residential309 beds available
Adult Learners
19%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Gwynedd Mercy University offers
a varied set of programs:
35 distinct programs across
14 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gwynedd Mercy University is 9:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
9:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$101M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$68,073
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
82 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
10
12%
$87,461
Associate Professors
16
20%
$71,025
Assistant Professors
36
44%
$65,368
Instructors
20
24%
$60,885
Pros & Cons of Gwynedd Mercy University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Gwynedd Mercy University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Above-average post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Gwynedd Mercy University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Gwynedd Mercy University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Gwynedd Mercy University.
Is Gwynedd Mercy University hard to get into?
Gwynedd Mercy University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 89.6%.
What is the acceptance rate at Gwynedd Mercy University?
Gwynedd Mercy University has an acceptance rate of 89.6%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Gwynedd Mercy University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Gwynedd Mercy University scored between 1023 and 1186 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
How much does Gwynedd Mercy University cost?
The average net price after aid at Gwynedd Mercy University is $27,483 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Gwynedd Mercy University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $67,145 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $27,483 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Gwynedd Mercy University known for?
Gwynedd Mercy University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Educational Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Gwynedd Mercy University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Gwynedd Mercy University are $67,145, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Gwynedd Mercy University accredited?
Yes. Gwynedd Mercy University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Gwynedd Mercy University?
Gwynedd Mercy University enrolls 1,067 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Gwynedd Mercy University?
Gwynedd Mercy University graduates 53% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Gwynedd Mercy University a public or private college?
Gwynedd Mercy University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Gwynedd Mercy University located?
Gwynedd Mercy University is located in Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Gwynedd Mercy University offer?
Gwynedd Mercy University offers 35 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12), Educational Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Gwynedd Mercy University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Gwynedd Mercy University is 9:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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