Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mount Mercy University #873 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,768 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 80.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Mount Mercy University sits in the 60.7 percentile for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Mount Mercy University's composite ranking reflects its balance of access and outcomes among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's earnings performance demonstrates how its graduates earn about $6,768 more than similar students at comparable institutions compared with similar students elsewhere.
Azimuth ranks Mount Mercy University #873 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Mount Mercy University enrolls roughly 1,107 undergraduates. Retention is 72.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 57.7%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Mount Mercy University performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Mount Mercy University #582 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,768 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mount Mercy University in the 80.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business, a field where employers recruit actively and early-career earnings tend to be competitive. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Mount Mercy University sits in the 11.9 percentile for access and the 54.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. With 26.7% of undergraduates receiving Pell Grants and 28.8% first-generation, the institution serves a meaningful share of students from lower-income and first-generation backgrounds. Mobility outcomes sit in the 47.6 percentile, indicating that graduates move into stable career pathways at rates comparable to peer institutions.
Mount Mercy University's published cost of attendance is $55,054. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,070, middle-income families pay around $16,883, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,244. Azimuth ranks Mount Mercy University #655 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. Mount Mercy participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is need-based; families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages. Work-study is available as part of the aid package for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,699, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,951; 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 $61,330, median federal debt of $23,699 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Mount Mercy University is a strong fit for students drawn to business and applied fields who want a private university experience in Cedar Rapids, IA. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $61,330, placing Mount Mercy University in the 51.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $6,768 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mount Mercy University in the 80.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 26.7% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.8% are first-generation — and delivers outcomes that place Mount Mercy University in the 71.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 82.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business fields, which account for 34% of degrees. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find meaningful returns relative to IA's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $34,809.
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
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Mount Mercy University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
College Of Saint Benedict Similar quality tier in Midwest (#24832 ranked) | MN | 92% | $63,260 | #24832 | Compare |
Herzing University-Kenosha Similar quality tier in Midwest (#24838 ranked) | WI | 92% | $36,909 | #24838 | Compare |
Columbia College Similar quality tier (#24841 ranked) | SC | 94% | $41,338 | #24841 | Compare |
Texas Wesleyan University Similar quality tier (#24842 ranked) | TX | 69% | $54,053 | #24842 | Compare |
Wilkes University Similar quality tier (#24828 ranked) | PA | 91% | $63,454 | #24828 | Compare |
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
105 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
23 graduates
Computer Science
8 graduates
Human Resources Management and Services
24 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
16 graduates
Mount Mercy University's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's focus on career-ready education. Nursing is the largest program with 105 graduates, followed by Teacher Education, Psychology, General, Business Administration, and Human Resources Management and Services.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 404 students annually, several deliver strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned with regional labor-market demand. The earnings pattern reflects Business as the institution's economic signature.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $75,613 four years after enrollment, followed by Business/Commerce, General at $64,408, Human Resources Management and Services at $61,772, Accounting at $59,763, and Business Administration at $57,378. These outcomes correspond to the institution's concentration in applied professional fields where employers in the Midwest actively recruit and offer stable career pathways.
Mount Mercy University's program portfolio emphasizes direct-to-workforce outcomes rather than grad-school-dependent pathways, which means four-year earnings reflect actual labor-market entry and early-career progression. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these professional and business-oriented fields align with regional and national wage trends.
For prospective students, the earnings data by major offers a clear signal of financial outcomes across the institution's dominant program families.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Mount Mercy University's published cost of attendance is $55,054. Need-based aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $17,070, middle-income families pay around $16,883, and higher-income families pay approximately $25,244.
Azimuth ranks Mount Mercy University #655 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.
Mount Mercy participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The institution's aid structure is need-based; families apply using the FAFSA to determine eligibility and aid packages.
Work-study is available as part of the aid package for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $23,699, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $19,951; 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 $61,330, median federal debt of $23,699 projects to a monthly payment of about $268 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 Mount Mercy University earn median 4-year earnings of $61,330, placing Mount Mercy University in the 51.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,768 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mount Mercy University in the 80.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mount Mercy University #582 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Mount Mercy University's concentration in business and applied fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 105 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $75,613, performing at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. The Teacher Education program graduates 26 students with median 4-year earnings of $47,713, and Psychology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $45,951 across 24 graduates.
Together, these programs anchor the institution's return profile and align with regional employer demand in the Cedar Rapids labor market.
