Mercyhurst University
Mercyhurst University is a private research university in Erie, Pennsylvania, enrolling about 2,191 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 81.02% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $47,452 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $45,770
- 2024 Average Net Price: $19,444 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 81.02% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 2,191 96.1% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 60.17%
Mercyhurst University: what the data shows
Common questions about Mercyhurst University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University is located in Erie, PA (ZIP 16546).
NCES locale classification: Town.
Is Mercyhurst University public or private?
Mercyhurst University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Mercyhurst University cost?
Published tuition: $45,770.
Average net price after aid: $19,444.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $22,626 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $22,429 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $17,197 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $21,665 |
| $110,001+ | $16,748 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $183,080.
How hard is it to get into Mercyhurst University?
Admission rate: 81.02%.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Mercyhurst University?
Total enrollment: 2,191 students.
About 96% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Mercyhurst University?
150%-time completion rate: 60.17%.
First-year retention: 79.8%.
What do graduates of Mercyhurst University earn?
Median earnings: $39,565 six years after entry; $47,452 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,305.
31.33% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Mercyhurst University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (769 completions)
- CIP 290201 (87 completions)
- Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration (58 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (50 completions)
- Graphic Communications (43 completions)
- CIP 520213 (42 completions)
- General Biological Sciences (28 completions)
- CIP 510912 (27 completions)
- Health Professions and Related Programs (21 completions)
- Education - 13.1015 (20 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Mercyhurst University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 81.02%; completion rate 60.17%; median earnings $47,452 at 10 years; net price $19,444. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$45,770
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Mercyhurst University was $45,770.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$19,444
2024 Value
In 2024 Mercyhurst University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,444.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$77,776 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$19,444 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$183,080 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Mercyhurst University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
31.33% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
64.70% 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 Mercyhurst University 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 Mercyhurst University 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 | $30,300 | $30,300 | $20,478 |
| 2014 | $31,485 | $31,485 | $18,134 |
| 2015 | $33,314 | $33,314 | $22,349 |
| 2016 | $34,580 | $34,580 | $21,847 |
| 2017 | $36,320 | $36,320 | $19,898 |
| 2018 | $37,170 | $37,170 | $24,592 |
| 2019 | $40,170 | $40,170 | $23,886 |
| 2020 | $41,350 | $41,350 | $27,283 |
| 2021 | $42,680 | $42,680 | $25,704 |
| 2022 | $43,460 | $43,460 | $23,666 |
| 2023 | $44,510 | $44,510 | $27,263 |
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
81.02% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
Test score data is not available for this institution.
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
GPA requirements are not published by this institution. Contact the admissions office for specific academic requirements.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
96.1% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Mercyhurst University in 2024 is 2,191 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
79.8%
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
57.58% 100% Completion Time
60.17% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 57.58% of students graduating from Mercyhurst University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Mercyhurst University.
Return on Investment
$25,305 Median Student Debt
$47,452 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
53.33% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
510.11% Return on Investment
5.3 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Mercyhurst University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 29.0201: 87 completions
Criminal Justice - Law Enforcement Administration: 58 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 50 completions
Graphic Communications: 43 completions
CIP 52.0213: 42 completions
General Biological Sciences: 28 completions
CIP 51.0912: 27 completions
Health Professions and Related Programs: 21 completions
Education - 13.1015: 20 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 769 completions
Most popular programs at Mercyhurst University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Mercyhurst University graduates.
About
Mercyhurst University is a private non-profit institution located in Erie, PA, offering 66 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 2,191 students. The admission rate is 81.02%. The institution maintains a 60.17% graduation rate. Approximately 31.33% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Erie, PA 16546
Region: Mid East
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 66 distinct degree programs, Mercyhurst University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Mercyhurst University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $45,770 and average net price is $19,444 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Mercyhurst University?
The admission rate is 81.0% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What do graduates of Mercyhurst University earn?
Median earnings are $39,565 six years after entry and $47,452 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Mercyhurst University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 60.2% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Mercyhurst University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,305.
How big is Mercyhurst University?
Total enrollment is about 2,191 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Mercyhurst University public or private?
Mercyhurst University is a private nonprofit institution located in Erie, PA.
Is Mercyhurst University an HBCU?
No. Mercyhurst University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Mercyhurst University a tribal college?
No. Mercyhurst University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Mercyhurst University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Mercyhurst University does not meet that proxy (reported share 5.6%).
Is Mercyhurst University religiously affiliated?
Yes. IPEDS reports a religious affiliation for Mercyhurst University: 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.