Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mercy University #304 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,616, placing Mercy University in the 62.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mercy University sits in the 82.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, with graduates earning about earn about $7,838 more than similar students at comparable institutions relative to similar students at comparable institutions. Mercy University's composite ranking reflects a health-focused program portfolio that delivers strong graduate earnings relative to cost, anchored by outcomes that place the university well above the midpoint among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings picture is reinforced by the institution's standing for earnings beyond expectations — a signal that graduates consistently outpace what their academic and demographic profile would predict at peer institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mercy University #304 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university located in Dobbs Ferry, NY, Mercy University enrolls roughly 5,735 undergraduates. Retention stands at 75.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 45.7%, reflecting a student body that largely completes what it starts. The composite is anchored by what Mercy University delivers for its graduates. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,616, and earn about $7,838 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mercy University in the 82.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's concentration in Health — a field with consistent employer demand and relatively direct pathways to stable careers — helps explain why graduates tend to outperform what their incoming profile would predict at comparable institutions. Azimuth ranks Mercy University #501 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Access and affordability provide important context for the composite. 50.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.9% are first-generation college students, meaning Mercy University serves a student population that often arrives with fewer financial resources and still achieves competitive post-graduation outcomes. Mercy University sits in the 79.8 percentile for affordability and the 83.0 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions, with mobility outcomes in the 53.0 percentile — a profile that reflects both the institution's health-focused program mix and its commitment to serving a broad range of students in the NY region.
Mercy University's published cost of attendance is $32,596. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $11,974, middle-income families pay around $15,056, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,299. Azimuth ranks Mercy University #289 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Mercy University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The institution participates in standard federal aid programs and works with families to construct aid packages that close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay. Families apply using the FAFSA and, where required, the CSS Profile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,637, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,710; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,616, median federal debt of $19,637 projects to a monthly payment of about $222 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Mercy University is a strong fit for students drawn to health professions, nursing, and applied social sciences who want a private nonprofit institution in the New York region with a clear pathway to stable, in-demand careers. It is particularly well-suited for students from low-income or first-generation backgrounds who need broad access and manageable costs alongside meaningful post-graduation earnings. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $62,616, placing Mercy University in the 62.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions — and graduates earn about $7,838 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mercy University in the 82.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mercy University enrolls a substantial share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 50.0% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 41.9% are first-generation — and delivers completion outcomes that reflect genuine investment in access. Median student debt at graduation is $19,637, a figure families should weigh against the earnings trajectory when planning borrowing. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program portfolio is concentrated in Health and related fields, so students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes, while those seeking broad STEM or business-focused programs may find a better match elsewhere. The NY location places graduates in one of the highest-cost labor markets in the country, which shapes both earnings expectations and post-graduation living costs.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
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Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Mercy University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Mercy University's published cost of attendance is $32,596. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $11,974, middle-income families pay around $15,056, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,299.
Azimuth ranks Mercy University #289 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Mercy University's aid structure is need-based, with financial aid distributed through federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional sources. The institution participates in standard federal aid programs and works with families to construct aid packages that close the gap between sticker price and what families actually pay.
Families apply using the FAFSA and, where required, the CSS Profile. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $19,637, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,710; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,616, median federal debt of $19,637 projects to a monthly payment of about $222 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Mercy University earn median 4-year earnings of $62,616, placing Mercy University in the 62.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $67,139 median at comparable institutions, reflecting the university's concentration in health sciences — a field where graduates move directly into credentialed, in-demand roles.
Graduates earn about $7,838 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mercy University in the 82.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mercy University #501 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Mercy University also sits in the 32.1 percentile for low-income graduate median earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the four-year horizon. The program lineup at Mercy University is anchored by Health, which accounts for the largest share of degree output and drives the institution's above-average earnings profile.
Nursing represents the highest aggregate return program, combining cohort scale with strong four-year pay. Azimuth ranks Nursing #21 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 330 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $118,232 — 1.3x the national benchmark for the field [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
Azimuth ranks Business Administration #231 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, with 174 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $64,963. Additional programs — including Psychology, General and Social Sciences — round out a health-focused portfolio where graduates consistently enter roles with stable hiring demand and competitive starting pay.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
330 graduates
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
14 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
30 graduates
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management
26 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
174 graduates
Mercy University's program mix is anchored in health and human services fields — a signature consistent with the university's mission as a career-focused private nonprofit serving students in the New York metropolitan area. The dominant program family is Health, which accounts for 14% of degree output, followed by Social Sciences at 7% and Education at 2%.
Across 32 programs, 17 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, collectively serving roughly 1,443 students annually. The highest aggregate-return program at Mercy University is Nursing, which combines meaningful cohort scale with strong four-year earnings — making it the program that contributes most to the university's overall financial outcomes.
Among the most-enrolled programs, Nursing program graduates 330 students with median earnings of $118,232 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #21 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Business Administration and Psychology, General are also among the largest programs by graduate count, with median four-year earnings of $64,963 and $53,346 respectively, reflecting the institution's concentration in fields tied to stable, in-demand local labor markets.
The [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/) explains how Azimuth evaluates programs across cohort size and earnings outcomes. The highest-earning programs at Mercy University are led by Nursing, where graduates earn median earnings of $118,232 four years after enrollment and Azimuth ranks the program #21 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Business Administration and Biology, General follow, with median four-year earnings of $64,963 and $62,849 respectively. These programs are largely direct-to-workforce pathways in health and applied professional fields, where graduates enter roles with consistent hiring demand across the New York region.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how health and human services fields align with current labor-market conditions.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rochester Institute Of Technology Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10799 ranked) | NY | 67% | $76,571 | #10799 | Compare |
Adelphi University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10797 ranked) | NY | 66% | $75,482 | #10797 | Compare |
Bucknell University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10796 ranked) | PA | 29% | $93,807 | #10796 | Compare |
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10811 ranked) | NY | 63% | $102,051 | #10811 | Compare |
Colby College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#10788 ranked) | ME | 7% | $80,490 | #10788 | Compare |
