Mercy College of Health Sciences
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private university in Des Moines, Iowa, enrolling about 867 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 99.71% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $62,234 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $17,664
- 2024 Average Net Price: $26,924 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 99.71% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 867 39.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 65.52%
- Average SAT Score: 980
Mercy College of Health Sciences: what the data shows
Common questions about Mercy College of Health Sciences, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Mercy College of Health Sciences is located in Des Moines, IA (ZIP 50309-1239).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences public or private?
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Mercy College of Health Sciences cost?
Published tuition: $17,664.
Average net price after aid: $26,924.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $24,171 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $27,533 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $29,193 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $26,615 |
| $110,001+ | $29,953 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $70,656.
How hard is it to get into Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Admission rate: 99.71%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 980 and midpoint ACT 20.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Total enrollment: 867 students.
About 39% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Mercy College of Health Sciences?
150%-time completion rate: 65.52%.
First-year retention: 69.2%.
What do graduates of Mercy College of Health Sciences earn?
Median earnings: $53,375 six years after entry; $62,234 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $14,745.
33.92% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Mercy College of Health Sciences known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (499 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (325 completions)
- CIP 510801 (91 completions)
- CIP 510904 (30 completions)
- CIP 051091 (16 completions)
- Health & Medical Administrative Services (11 completions)
- CIP 510911 (10 completions)
- CIP 511005 (7 completions)
- CIP 510806 (4 completions)
- CIP 511102 (4 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 99.71%; completion rate 65.52%; median earnings $62,234 at 10 years; net price $26,924. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$17,664
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Mercy College of Health Sciences was $17,664.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$26,924
2024 Value
In 2024 Mercy College of Health Sciences had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $26,924.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$107,696 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$26,924 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$70,656 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Financial Aid by Income Level
33.92% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
63.31% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Mercy College of Health Sciences was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Mercy College of Health Sciences in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $15,040 | $15,040 | $18,527 |
| 2014 | $15,642 | $15,642 | $19,631 |
| 2015 | $16,268 | $16,268 | $20,844 |
| 2016 | $16,920 | $16,920 | $22,084 |
| 2017 | $17,600 | $17,600 | $21,122 |
| 2018 | $17,952 | $17,952 | $19,941 |
| 2019 | $18,150 | $18,150 | $21,989 |
| 2020 | $18,332 | $18,332 | $23,737 |
| 2021 | $19,754 | $19,754 | $21,699 |
| 2022 | $16,632 | $16,632 | $24,354 |
| 2023 | $17,328 | $17,328 | $23,417 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
99.71% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 980
ACT Average: 20
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
39.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Mercy College of Health Sciences in 2024 is 867 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
69.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
66.67% 100% Completion Time
65.52% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 66.67% of students graduating from Mercy College of Health Sciences completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Return on Investment
$14,745 Median Student Debt
$62,234 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
23.69% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
477.87% Return on Investment
2.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 325 completions
CIP 51.0801: 91 completions
CIP 51.0904: 30 completions
CIP 05.1091: 16 completions
Health & Medical Administrative Services: 11 completions
CIP 51.0911: 10 completions
CIP 51.1005: 7 completions
CIP 51.0806: 4 completions
CIP 51.1102: 4 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 499 completions
Most popular programs at Mercy College of Health Sciences.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Mercy College of Health Sciences graduates.
About
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private non-profit institution located in Des Moines, IA, offering 11 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 867 students. The admission rate is 99.71%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 980. The institution maintains a 65.52% graduation rate. Approximately 33.92% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Des Moines, IA 50309-1239
Region: Plains
Insights and Analysis
Mercy College of Health Sciences provides educational opportunities for students seeking higher education. Prospective students should carefully evaluate all factors including costs, outcomes, and program offerings when making their enrollment decisions.
FAQ
How much does Mercy College of Health Sciences cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $17,664 and average net price is $26,924 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Mercy College of Health Sciences?
The admission rate is 99.7% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Mercy College of Health Sciences reports midpoint SAT about 980 and midpoint ACT about 20.
What do graduates of Mercy College of Health Sciences earn?
Median earnings are $53,375 six years after entry and $62,234 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Mercy College of Health Sciences?
The 150%-time completion rate is 65.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Mercy College of Health Sciences students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $14,745.
How big is Mercy College of Health Sciences?
Total enrollment is about 867 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences public or private?
Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private nonprofit institution located in Des Moines, IA.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences an HBCU?
No. Mercy College of Health Sciences is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences a tribal college?
No. Mercy College of Health Sciences is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Mercy College of Health Sciences does not meet that proxy (reported share 13.6%).
Is Mercy College of Health Sciences religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Mercy College of Health Sciences: Roman Catholic.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.