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Mercy College of Health Sciences

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1239

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Campus Vibe

Small & IntimateUrbanPrivateClose Faculty Access

Known for health sciences — close-knit campus

Mercy College of Health Sciences is a private urban institution in Des Moines, Iowa. The school is accessible to a wide range of students.

A small campus of 905 undergraduates with a 7:1 student-faculty ratio. The urban location puts students at the center of city life.

49% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $62,234 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $23,417.

Established
1899
Type
Private college

Plan Your Visit

99%Acceptance
—SAT Avg
905Students
7:1Student:Faculty
49%Grad Rate
$62,234Earnings 10yr
$23,417Net Price

News & Alerts

program2026-03-15

Mercy College of Health Sciences Launches New Data Science Minor

Starting Fall 2026, students can pursue an interdisciplinary data science minor combining CS, statistics, and domain courses.

tuition2026-02-28

Tuition Increase Announced for 2026-27

The board of trustees approved a 3.2% tuition increase for the upcoming academic year, in line with peer institutions.

Admissions

Acceptance Rate98.8%

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Admissions Intel

Acceptance Rate

98.8%

Trend

Yield Rate

35.0%

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Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$17,328
Books & Supplies$2,246
Total Cost of Attendance$30,844
Average Net Price$23,417
Median Debt at Graduation$14,745
Monthly Payment (10yr)$156

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$21,177
$30–48K$19,440
$48–75K$24,028
$75–110K$24,859
$110K+$28,966

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

36.2%

Avg Tuition Increase

3.2%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,500

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Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

7

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

2

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

1

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (10)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

53%

Negative
  • •53% first-year retention rate
  • •Active student organizations
  • •Engaged campus community

Mental Health Services

Counselor Ratio

1:350

24/7 Crisis Line

Yes

Free Sessions

12 per year

Avg Wait

5 days

Walk-in hours available weekdays

Disability Services

Dedicated OfficeOffice of Disability Services
Extended test timeNote-taking assistanceHousing accommodationsAccessible transportation

ADA-compliant campus with ongoing accessibility improvements

Dining

Rating

★★★★☆

Score

4/5

Meal Plan

$6,200/yr

VegetarianVeganGluten-freeHalalKosher

Multiple dining halls with farm-to-table options

Student Body

Undergrads
905
Gender Split
85% / 15%
Women / Men
First Generation
35%
Pell Grant Recipients
34%

Race & Ethnicity

White 68%
Black 13%
Hispanic 11%
Asian 5%
Two+ 1%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate48.6%
Freshman Retention52.6%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$53,375
10 Years$62,234

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

Rankings

U.S. News
#45
↑2
vs 2024
Forbes
#52
↓1
vs 2024
Niche
#38
↑3
vs 2024

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • •History In 1893, three sisters from Mercy Hospital in Davenport, Iowa, founded a hospital in Des Moines.
  • •Their first location was Hoyt Sherman Place and in 1899 Mercy Hospital Training School was established.
  • •This evolved into Mercy School of Health Sciences, from which Mercy College of Health Sciences was established in downtown Des Moines in 1995.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

112Above Average

Housing and food costs are higher than national average

Climate (School Year)

68°
Sep
55°
Oct
42°
Nov
30°
Dec
25°
Jan
28°
Feb
38°
Mar
50°
Apr
62°
May
Snowfall: 48"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 120

Nearest Cities

Bostonpop. 675,647
90 miles(95 min)
Hartfordpop. 121,054
60 miles(70 min)

Transit Scores

BikeableCampus shuttle: Free campus shuttle runs 7am-midnight
72
Walk Score
45
Transit Score
68
Bike Score

Local Economy

Unemployment Rate3.2%
Top Employers
UniversityRegional Medical CenterTech corridor firms
Key Industries
EducationHealthcareTechnology

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MCI Kansas City169 mi
MSP Minneapolis-St Paul228 mi
STL St Louis261 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1157 mi · ~33h 25m drive
New York, NY1020 mi · ~29h 28m drive
Hartford, CT1079 mi · ~31h 10m drive
Providence, RI1143 mi · ~33h 1m drive
Albany, NY1019 mi · ~29h 26m drive
Syracuse, NY897 mi · ~25h 55m drive
Rochester, NY823 mi · ~23h 47m drive
Buffalo, NY759 mi · ~21h 56m drive
Philadelphia, PA971 mi · ~28h 3m drive
Pittsburgh, PA714 mi · ~20h 38m drive
Harrisburg, PA877 mi · ~25h 20m drive
Newark, NJ1011 mi · ~29h 12m drive
Washington, DC893 mi · ~25h 48m drive
Baltimore, MD907 mi · ~26h 12m drive
Atlanta, GA740 mi · ~21h 23m drive
Charlotte, NC819 mi · ~23h 40m drive
Raleigh, NC901 mi · ~26h 2m drive
Miami, FL1336 mi · ~38h 36m drive
Orlando, FL1135 mi · ~32h 47m drive
Tampa, FL1134 mi · ~32h 46m drive
Nashville, TN525 mi · ~15h 10m drive
New Orleans, LA829 mi · ~23h 57m drive
Richmond, VA905 mi · ~26h 9m drive
Chicago, IL310 mi · ~8h 57m drive
Detroit, MI546 mi · ~15h 46m drive
Minneapolis, MN234 mi · ~6h 46m drive
St. Louis, MO274 mi · ~7h 55m drive
Kansas City, MO180 mi · ~5h 12m drive
Indianapolis, IN411 mi · ~11h 52m drive
Columbus, OH567 mi · ~16h 23m drive
Cleveland, OH617 mi · ~17h 49m drive
Milwaukee, WI309 mi · ~8h 56m drive
Dallas, TX634 mi · ~18h 19m drive
Houston, TX823 mi · ~23h 47m drive
Austin, TX816 mi · ~23h 34m drive
San Antonio, TX884 mi · ~25h 32m drive
Los Angeles, CA1435 mi · ~41h 27m drive
San Francisco, CA1546 mi · ~44h 40m drive
San Diego, CA1428 mi · ~41h 15m drive
Seattle, WA1463 mi · ~42h 16m drive
Portland, OR1471 mi · ~42h 30m drive
Denver, CO609 mi · ~17h 36m drive
Phoenix, AZ1154 mi · ~33h 20m drive
Salt Lake City, UT950 mi · ~27h 27m drive
Honolulu, HI3941 mi · ~113h 51m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Suggested Itinerary

9:00 AMArrive & park
Visitor parking lot
Free parking with visitor pass
9:30 AMCheck in at Admissions
Admissions Office
10:00 AMInformation session
Welcome Center
45 minutes
11:00 AMCampus tour
Starts at Welcome Center
75 minutes, student-led
12:30 PMLunch
Main Dining Hall
Visitor meal passes available
1:30 PMDepartment visit
Academic buildings
Schedule with department directly
2:30 PMExplore campus independently
Library, student center, residence halls

Airport Transit

Kansas City (MCI)169 miles
Rental car
254 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
338 min$203-338
Minneapolis-St Paul (MSP)228 miles
Rental car
342 min$40-60/day
Shuttle/rideshare
456 min$274-456

Deadline Calendar

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Mercy College of Health Sciences Application Checklist

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Decision Notifications

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