Mercyhurst University
A good fit for students who want accessible admissions and students who prefer a mid-size campus. no major red flags in the data. generous financial aid cuts net price well below sticker.
About This School
Mercyhurst University is a private nonprofit institution located in Erie, Pennsylvania with approximately 2,191 undergraduate students enrolled. Mercyhurst University has an open or accessible admissions process, with an acceptance rate of 81%. The average net price after financial aid is $19,444 per year. The graduation rate is 60%, and the typical graduate earns $44,200 within 10 years of enrollment.
Mercyhurst University is a private Catholic university in Erie, Pennsylvania, United States.
The numbers tell a mixed story here — a 59% graduation rate means roughly 4 in 10 students don't finish, which is worth taking seriously before enrolling. On the positive side, median debt at graduation is a relatively modest $19,500, and the Catholic, small-campus environment in Erie suits students who want personalized attention and a tight-knit community. Worth considering if you have a clear reason to be here — a specific program, athletic opportunity, or the faith-based mission — but less compelling as a default choice given the graduation and earnings figures.
Popular Programs
Percentage of degrees awarded. Source: College Scorecard.
Notable Alumni
Source: Wikidata. Used for context only.
Admissions
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
Cost & Financial Aid
Net Price by Family Income
Average annual cost after grants/scholarships, by household income. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Financial Aid
Full Cost
After Graduation
Earnings 6 Years After Enrollment, by Gender
Gap: 10% less for female graduates. National avg ~16%.
What Each Major Actually Earns
Median earnings four years after graduation, by major, next to the national median for that same major at every college. The school-wide average hides this: at most schools the spread between the best- and worst-paying majors is far wider than the gap between schools.
Mercyhurst University graduates earn most above the national rate in Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General ($83,812 vs $61,296 nationally), and most below it in Finance and Financial Management Services ($63,128 vs $83,343).
| Major | Grads | Here | National | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Intelligence, Command Control and Information Operations | 59 | $86,597 | $75,803 | +$10,794 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 30 | $54,902 | $55,378 | −$476 |
| Biology, General | 28 | $65,000 | $57,214 | +$7,786 |
| Special Education and Teaching | 27 | $49,638 | $50,499 | −$861 |
| Design and Applied Arts | 23 | $45,411 | $51,490 | −$6,079 |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 20 | $83,812 | $61,296 | +$22,516 |
| Psychology, General | 19 | $43,694 | $50,706 | −$7,012 |
| Security Science and Technology | 18 | $55,665 | $57,805 | −$2,140 |
| Specialized Sales, Merchandising and Marketing Operations | 17 | $61,066 | $59,631 | +$1,435 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 14 | $63,128 | $83,343 | −$20,215 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 14 | $72,411 | $68,257 | +$4,154 |
| Dance | 12 | $41,049 | $39,980 | +$1,069 |
U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard field-of-study data. Median earnings of graduates working and not enrolled four years after completing a bachelor's degreehere. Majors with too few graduates to report are omitted for privacy, so this is not the school's full program list.
Will This School Pay Off?
Solid return. Earnings outpace debt, though major choice matters.
Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. These are means across all graduates, not specific to any major.
Student Body
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (2,191 undergraduates).
Contact & Location
Official Links
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See How Colleges Compare
Mercyhurst University is one of thousands of colleges in our data studies, each built from the same U.S. Department of Education data shown on this page. Compare schools head to head:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the acceptance rate at Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University has an acceptance rate of 81%, based on the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Education.
Is Mercyhurst University hard to get into?
Not especially. Mercyhurst University has an acceptance rate of 81%, so admissions are relatively accessible for applicants who meet the requirements.
How much does Mercyhurst University cost?
The average net price at Mercyhurst University is about $19,444 per year after grants and scholarships, based on federal data. Your actual cost depends on your family's finances and aid package.
What is the graduation rate at Mercyhurst University?
Mercyhurst University has a graduation rate of 60%, according to U.S. Department of Education data.
Sources & Methodology
Primary data source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Accessed via automated sync. Latest values may come from different reporting years depending on the metric.
School overview from Wikipedia. Used for context only, not as a primary data source for admissions, cost, or outcomes claims.
- Earnings figures are institution-level averages, not major-specific.
- Some metrics are based on Title IV financial aid recipients only.
- Some values may be privacy-suppressed or rolled up by the Department of Education.
- Contact the school directly for current admissions requirements and costs.
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