Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Des Moines, Iowa. It enrolls 867 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.
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.
Fair
52/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes37
Value33
Affordability39
Selectivity5
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 99.7%, Mercy College of Health Sciences is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
99.7%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
16 – 21
Cumulative composite
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 Mercy College of Health Sciences is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Stable ↑
1.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Mercy College of Health Sciences 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 $26,924 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,924
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
34%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
63%
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
$17,664
Room & Board (off-campus)
$10,000
Books & Supplies
$2,328
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$7,864
Total Cost of Attendance
$34,398
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
$24,171
$30,001 – $48,000
$27,533
$48,001 – $75,000
$29,193
$75,001 – $110,000
$26,615
Over $110,000
$29,953
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.
$3,66810%percentile
$7,47925%percentile
$14,745Medianpercentile
$25,00075%percentile
$32,50090%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 $13,939
↓ $806
No Pell $12,281
↓ $2,464
Dependent students $9,166
↓ $5,579
Independent students $12,500
↓ $2,245
Female students $12,500
↓ $2,245
Male students $11,141
↓ $3,604
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,667, less than completers ($14,745), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
50% of full-time students who enrolled at Mercy College of Health Sciences graduate within six years, and 59% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
50%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
59%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Mercy College of Health Sciences earn a median of $62,234 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$62,234
Earning > $25K
84%
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 Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$46,400
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$46,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$51,000
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 ↑
9.1 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
Mercy College of Health Sciences is home to 867 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 35% are first-generation college students, 61% study part-time.
Total Enrolled
867
Part-Time
61%
First-Generation
35%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 64.2%557
Hispanic 13.6%118
Black 12.2%106
Asian 6.2%54
Other 2.7%23
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Mercy College of Health Sciences. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityDes Moines, Iowa
Housing
Commuter campusNo on-campus housing
Adult Learners
50%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NAIAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Mercy College of Health Sciences offers
a focused set of programs:
9 distinct programs across
1 major.
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 Mercy College of Health Sciences is 7:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
7:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$60M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$53,120
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
58 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
5
9%
$69,906
Associate Professors
3
5%
$61,299
Assistant Professors
37
64%
$55,468
Instructors
13
22%
$38,091
Pros & Cons of Mercy College of Health Sciences
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Mercy College of Health Sciences 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
Solid post-graduation earnings
Flexible part-time enrollment options
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Narrow program catalog compared to mid-sized peers
Best for:
Based on the data, Mercy College of Health Sciences is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; working adults or students needing part-time study options; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mercy College of Health Sciences
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences hard to get into?
Mercy College of Health Sciences has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 99.7%.
What is the acceptance rate at Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Mercy College of Health Sciences has an acceptance rate of 99.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What ACT score do you need for Mercy College of Health Sciences?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Mercy College of Health Sciences scored between 16 and 21 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Mercy College of Health Sciences cost?
The average net price after aid at Mercy College of Health Sciences is $26,924 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $62,234 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,924 per year. That's roughly 2.3x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Mercy College of Health Sciences known for?
Mercy College of Health Sciences is best known for its programs in Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Health Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Mercy College of Health Sciences are $62,234, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences accredited?
Yes. Mercy College of Health Sciences is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Mercy College of Health Sciences enrolls 867 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates 50% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences a public or private college?
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Mercy College of Health Sciences located?
Mercy College of Health Sciences is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
What programs does Mercy College of Health Sciences offer?
Mercy College of Health Sciences offers 9 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Allied Health Diagnostic, Health Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Mercy College of Health Sciences?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mercy College of Health Sciences is 7:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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