Skip to content
CollegeRanker
Mercy College of Health Sciences logo

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Private nonprofit Des Moines, IA · Urban · Plains · 100% data
A- Earnings C Graduation C- Diversity
Graduation Rate
56% C
About half of students who start complete their degree
Earnings (10yr)
$62,234 A-
Well above the typical college graduate
Net Price
$26,924 D
57% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
100% F
Accessible to most qualified applicants
Earnings +53% vs avg
Graduation -2% vs avg
Net Price 57% vs avg

Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 13.9× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $13.9 over 20 years.

13.9× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $13.9 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,388,499.

What The Data Says

  1. A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.

  2. Graduates earn 53% more than the national college median.

  3. Every $1 invested returns $13.9 over 20 years — an exceptional return.

About Mercy College of Health Sciences

Mercy College of Health Sciences is profiled below with full outcomes data from federal sources.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Special-Focus Institution
Carnegie Class
Special Focus
Enrollment
867
Setting
Urban
Designations
30
Primary Strengths
Health Professions

Why students choose Mercy College of Health Sciences

Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C
Top 54% overall
A-
Earnings
$62,234 median
C-
Value
2.3× net price
D
Affordability
$26,924/yr net
C
Graduation
56% graduate
F
Selectivity
100% admit rate
C-
Diversity
0.55 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

Mercy College of Health Sciences has a 100% acceptance rate, making it accessible for many students looking to enter the health professions. With an enrollment of 867, this college is small enough to offer personalized attention while still providing a range of educational opportunities.

The earnings potential for graduates is strong, with a median income of $62,234 after ten years. While the graduation rate stands at 56%, the college emphasizes preparing students for careers in health professions, which are in high demand. The Pell Grant rate of 34% indicates that a significant portion of students may require financial assistance, contributing to the diverse economic backgrounds of the student body.

At a net price of $26,924 and a median debt of $14,745, students can expect to invest in their education without incurring overwhelming debt. The college thrives for those who are dedicated to pursuing careers in healthcare and are looking for a supportive environment to begin their professional journey.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective Mercy College of Health Sciences is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into Mercy College of Health Sciences? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Mercy College of Health Sciences, located in Des Moines, Iowa, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 980. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.

Acceptance Rate
100%
Retention Rate
69%
SAT Average
980
ACT Midpoint
20
ACT Range
16–21
Full-Time Faculty
39%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$6,328
Student–Faculty Ratio
8:1
Diversity Index
0.55
First-Gen Students
35%
Applicants
152
Admitted
147

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mercy College of Health Sciences? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Mercy College of Health Sciences is $17,664, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,924. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,171 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,745 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$17,664
Out-of-State
$17,664
Avg Net Price
$26,924
Median Debt
$14,745
Pell Grant Rate
34%
Federal Loan Rate
63%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$24,171
Family Income $30K–$48K
$27,533
Family Income $48K–$75K
$29,193
Family Income $110K+
$29,953

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Mercy College of Health Sciences — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is Mercy College of Health Sciences Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Mercy College of Health Sciences earn a median of $62,234, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

6 Years After Entry
$53,375
8 Years
$56,719
10 Years
$62,234
Debt-to-Earnings
0.24x
Earning > $25K
84%

Earnings Trajectory

$53,375 6yr $56,719 8yr $62,234 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (7)
54%
100% (7)
54%
100% (7)
54%
100% (7)
54%

How Mercy Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation56%Earnings 10yr$62KNet Price$27KRetention69%Median Debt$15KPell Grant Rate34%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$24K$0-30K$28K$30-48K$29K$48-75K$30K$110K+

College ROI Calculator

Is Mercy College of Health Sciences Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, Mercy College of Health Sciences delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $26,924/year ($107,696 total). Graduates earn $62,234 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,496,195 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,388,499 (13.9× your investment). The median debt is $14,745, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 56% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$107,696
Projected 20yr Earnings
$1,496,195
Net Return
$1,388,499
ROI Multiple
13.9×
Cost Per Year
$26,924
Median Debt
$14,745
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
56%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Endowment
$9,804,093
Federal Grants
$620,454
Investment Income
$-1,106,000

Top Programs

The fields Mercy College of Health Sciences awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Top Careers

Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Mercy College of Health Sciences's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into Mercy College of Health Sciences? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Mercy College of Health Sciences, located in Des Moines, Iowa, admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 100%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 980. The graduation rate is roughly 56%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mercy College of Health Sciences? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at Mercy College of Health Sciences is $17,664, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $26,924. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $24,171 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $14,745 in federal student loans.

Is Mercy College of Health Sciences Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of Mercy College of Health Sciences earn a median of $62,234, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.

Similar Schools

Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Mercy College of Health Sciences.

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes for 2026 — report cover Download PDF

The 2026 Annual Report

The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

Free · 21 pages · 5,745 institutions · 100% federal data, no surveys