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Dubuque, IA · Cedar Rapids, IA
| Loras College | Mount Mercy University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $20,716/yr | $20,168/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $20,479/yr | $17,070/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $23,699 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $17,033/yr | $15,294/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $15,624/yr | $16,883/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $20,233/yr | $20,311/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,039/yr | $25,244/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $251/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $11,000/yr | $11,600/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $11,000/yr | $10,000/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $600/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,250/yr | $5,000/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $50,537/yr | $55,054/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $39,824/yr | $40,878/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $39,824/yr | $40,878/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 23% | 27% |
| Students taking federal loans | 58% | 53% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 100% | 83% |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 1,652 | 1,436 |
| Students accepted | 1,517 | 1,131 |
| Students who enrolled | 257 | 208 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 17% | 18% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | No data reported | 1% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 3% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 68% | 58% |
| Freshmen who come back | 82% | 73% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $58,289/yr | $60,787/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $43,268–$82,689 | $44,476–$83,487 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 67% | 63% |
| White students graduating | 68% | 60% |
| Black students graduating | 43% | 58% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 74% | 50% |
| Asian students graduating | 100% | 40% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $46,069/yr | $52,871/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 83% | 81% |
| Graduate on time | 44% | 54% |
| Pell students who graduate | 55% | 49% |
| First-gen students who finish | 57% | 69% |
| Low-income students who finish | 49% | 60% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $54,415/yr | $54,367/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 22% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 31% · Health Professions 28% · Education 9% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 22% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 31% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 16% of degrees | Health Professions — 28% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 8% of degrees | Education — 9% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Engineering — 8% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 7% of degrees | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 4% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Accounting and Related Services — $61,147/yr | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $76,631/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 21% | 6.9% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,083 | 1,107 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 14 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 66 | 278 |
| Average professor pay | $7,039/mo | $6,815/mo |
| Full-time professors | 74% | 100% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Higher Learning Commission | Higher Learning Commission |
| Median family income | $85,518 | $50,312 |
| Setting | City (small) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Dubuque, IA | Cedar Rapids, IA |
| Region | Plains | Plains |
| Founded | 1839 | 1928 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | Master's Colleges & Universities: Medium Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.5% | 12% |
| Men | 59% | 41% |
| Women | 41% | 59% |
| White students | 75% | 56% |
| Black students | 4.2% | 5.7% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 8.2% | 7.7% |
| Asian students | 1.1% | 2.2% |
| Two or more races | 2.9% | 9.9% |
| Other / not reported | 3.7% | 6.4% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 17% | 29% |
| Part-time students | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| Students age 25+ | 5.1% | 17% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $8,934/yr | $7,653/yr |
| Endowment | $56.1M | $43.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 898 | 553 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $4,516/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $5,790/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Four-one-four plan |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic | Roman Catholic |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | Yes |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III with football | NAIA Division I |
| Football team | Yes | No |
| Varsity teams | 23 | 21 |
| Student athletes | 598 | 602 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $3.9M |
| Athletics budget | $5.6M | $7.9M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.6M | $8.0M |
| Recruiting spend | $94,037 | $30,475 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.