Mercyhurst University

Mercyhurst University's published cost of attendance is $59,557. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $22,626, families in the lower-middle band pay around $22,429, middle-income families pay about $17,197, families in the upper-middle band pay approximately $21,665, and higher-income families pay around $16,748.

Azimuth ranks Mercyhurst University #735 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.

Mercyhurst University participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. Families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and grants.

The institution's aid structure aims to close the gap between published cost and what families actually pay, though the extent of that gap depends on individual financial circumstances and the specific aid package offered. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,305, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $25,932; 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 $57,293, median federal debt of $25,305 projects to a monthly payment of about $286 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 Mercyhurst University earn median 4-year earnings of $57,293, placing Mercyhurst University in the 32.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,653 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mercyhurst University in the 30.3 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Mercyhurst University #868 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Mercyhurst University's concentration in business and professional fields.

Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations is the largest program with 86 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $86,597, performing at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. The Criminal Justice program graduates 35 students with median 4-year earnings of $54,902, and Biology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $65,000 across 33 graduates.

These programs anchor the institution's return profile, with Special Education and Teaching and Design and Applied Arts rounding out the top five by enrollment and contributing to consistent outcomes across the degree portfolio.

Mercyhurst University's program mix is anchored in Business and professional fields. Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations is the largest program with 86 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice, Biology, General, Special Education and Teaching, and Design and Applied Arts.

Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 509 students annually, the institution concentrates in applied professional and business-oriented fields that lead directly into stable career pathways. The earnings pattern reflects this applied focus.

Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations leads with median earnings of $86,597 four years after enrollment, followed by Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General at $83,812, Biology, General at $65,000, Security Science and Technology at $55,665, and Criminal Justice at $54,902. The concentration of Business at 19% of graduates, combined with Education at 7% and Arts at 7%, positions Mercyhurst University as a professional-outcomes-oriented institution where graduates move directly into the workforce in business, accounting, management, and related fields.

Most of Mercyhurst University's dominant programs are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the labor market directly and earnings reflect immediate workforce outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these professional and business-focused fields align with regional and national labor-market demand in the Erie, Pennsylvania area and beyond.