Private Nonprofit Graduate Good 64/100

Mercyhurst University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Erie, Pennsylvania

About Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Erie, Pennsylvania. It enrolls 2,191 students (a mid-sized 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.

Acceptance
81%
Graduation
43.6%
Net Price
$19,444
Median Earnings (10yr)
$47,452
Enrollment
2,191
Student : Faculty
15:1

Accreditor Middle States Commission on Higher Education
Academic Calendar Semester

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
64/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes 57
Value 40
Affordability 50
Selectivity 41

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 81%, Mercyhurst University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.

Acceptance Rate
81%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
Test Policy Test Optional Applicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Mercyhurst University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Stable 3.2 pts since 2019
86.4%201988%202082.4%202180.6%202283.2%2023

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Mercyhurst 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 $19,444 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$19,444
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
31%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
65%
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
$45,770
Room & Board (on-campus)
$14,540
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,030
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,269
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,269
Total Cost of Attendance
$59,557

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
    $22,626
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $22,429
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $17,197
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $21,665
  • Over $110,000
    $16,748

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.

$4,750
10% percentile
$8,250
25% percentile
$25,305
Median percentile
$27,000
75% percentile
$33,976
90% 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 $19,000 ↓ $6,305
No Pell $19,500 ↓ $5,805
Dependent students $19,500 ↓ $5,805
Independent students $20,000 ↓ $5,305
Female students $20,542 ↓ $4,763
Male students $14,250 ↓ $11,055
Pell recipients: 16.8% (4,263 students)No Pell: 17.3% (4,375 students)Dependent students: 17.3% (4,375 students)Independent students: 17.7% (4,487 students)Female students: 18.2% (4,609 students)Male students: 12.6% (3,197 students)Overall Median$25,305
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($25,305), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

44% of full-time students who enrolled at Mercyhurst University graduate within six years, and 79% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
44%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
79%
Returning for their second year

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Mercyhurst University earn a median of $47,452 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$47,452
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$38,000$41,000$44,000$46,000$49,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

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
$40,500

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$49,600

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.


By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)
$38,000

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)
$43,700

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)
$47,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $9,100, about 18% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

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 23.7 pts across 6 years
65.2%1yr70.6%3yr82.5%5yr88.9%7yr
What this signals: Excellent. 89% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Mercyhurst University is home to 2,191 students, a mid-sized community.

Total Enrolled
2,191
Part-Time
4%
First-Generation
29%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 73.4% 1,608
Black 7.4% 162
International 6.0% 131
Hispanic 5.6% 122
Asian 1.6% 34
Other 0.7% 15
White: 73.4% (1,608 students)Black: 7.4% (162 students)International: 6.0% (131 students)Hispanic: 5.6% (122 students)Asian: 1.6% (34 students)Other: 0.7% (15 students)Total2,191

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Mercyhurst University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Small City Erie, Pennsylvania
Housing
Strongly residential 2,000 beds for 2,191 students
Adult Learners
7% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semester scheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated

What You Can Study

Mercyhurst University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 73 distinct programs across 19 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.

10 Programs
16 Programs
3 Programs
4 Programs
4 Programs
3 Programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Mercyhurst University is 15:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
15:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$100M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$65,521
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

131 instructional faculty across 5 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 25 19% $84,805
Associate Professors 31 24% $69,151
Assistant Professors 54 41% $58,832
Instructors 16 12% $52,819
Lecturers 5 4% $59,486

Pros & Cons of Mercyhurst University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Mercyhurst University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Accessible admissions for most applicants
  • Reasonable class sizes
CONS
  • Below-average completion rate
Best for: Based on the data, Mercyhurst University is a fit for students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.

Frequently Asked Questions about Mercyhurst University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Mercyhurst University.

Is Mercyhurst University hard to get into?
Mercyhurst University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 81%.
What is the acceptance rate at Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University has an acceptance rate of 81%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Mercyhurst University cost?
The average net price after aid at Mercyhurst University is $19,444 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Mercyhurst University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $47,452 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,444 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Mercyhurst University known for?
Mercyhurst University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Intelligence, Intelligence. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Mercyhurst University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Mercyhurst University are $47,452, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Mercyhurst University accredited?
Yes. Mercyhurst University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University enrolls 2,191 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University graduates 44% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Mercyhurst University a public or private college?
Mercyhurst University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Mercyhurst University located?
Mercyhurst University is located in Erie, Pennsylvania.
What programs does Mercyhurst University offer?
Mercyhurst University offers 73 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Intelligence, Intelligence.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Mercyhurst University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mercyhurst University is 15:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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