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Is Mount Mercy University worth it?
A first pass affordability and outcome read for Mount Mercy, using national average inputs. Run your own numbers for a personalized score.
Worth-It Score
Stretch
Mount Mercy sits in the stretch band for a typical family. The long-run earnings picture at $60,787 helps, but median debt of $23,699 plus yearly net price of $20,168 creates a tighter path. For context, Mount Mercy's net price is about 5% above the typical 4-year, private nonprofit school. It can work, but the financing plan has to be deliberate.
Is the price fair?
Compared to 1237 similar 4-year, private nonprofit schools
This school
$23,972
/yrAverage school like this
$22,837
/yrNet price is slightly above average
You'd pay about $1,135 more per year than the typical student at a similar school. Over 4 years that's roughly $5,000 in extra cost.
Score breakdown
The public version of the score weighs affordability, after graduation outcomes, and repayment burden.
Affordability
40% weight
The yearly net price sits in a range that leaves more room for family cash flow and lower borrowing.
Outcome
40% weight
The outcome data does not create enough margin to fully offset the cost.
Repayment
20% weight
Median debt stays in a more comfortable repayment range for a typical graduate.
The numbers behind the score
Median net price per year
$20,168
Median earnings 10 years out
$60,787
Median debt at graduation
$23,699
Graduation rate
57%
At Mount Mercy, a typical graduate carries about $23,699 in student debt and earns roughly $60,787 ten years after enrolling. On a standard 10-year repayment plan, that works out to about $269 per month, or 5% of pre-tax income. That sits inside a borrower comfort range for many graduates.
What this means for your family
Mount Mercy is a private nonprofit four year school in Cedar Rapids, IA. Private pricing can swing more dramatically based on aid, so your personalized score matters more here than the national average view alone.
Similar schools worth comparing
These schools share a similar sector, geography, or price range.
Private nonprofit 4-year
Waldorf
Forest City, IA
Worth-It Score: 49/100
Median net price: $19,693
Private nonprofit 4-year
Loras
Dubuque, IA
Worth-It Score: 67/100
Median net price: $20,716
Private nonprofit 4-year
Upper Iowa
Fayette, IA
Worth-It Score: 48/100
Median net price: $20,942
Private nonprofit 4-year
Buena Vista
Storm Lake, IA
Worth-It Score: 56/100
Median net price: $18,846
Private nonprofit 4-year
Grand View
Des Moines, IA
Worth-It Score: 54/100
Median net price: $21,774
Common questions about Mount Mercy
The median net price at Mount Mercy is $20,168 per year. That is the average yearly price after typical grant aid for students in the public federal data, not the published sticker price.
Get your personalized Worth-It score
National averages are a starting point. Plug in your actual aid offer, intended major, and family situation to get a score that reflects your specific picture.
Looking at private colleges options in Iowa? See the most affordable private colleges in Iowa →
The Worth-It Score weighs affordability (40%), after graduation outcomes (40%), and repayment burden (20%). Underlying data points come from publicly available federal higher education reporting. See full methodology →