PrivateUrban

Mercy College of Health Sciences

Des Moines, Iowa 50309-1239

Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Health sciencesTight-knitUrban

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

Admissions

Acceptance Rate98.8%

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

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

36.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

0.4%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$12,500

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

Peer Average

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

Burglary

Aggravated Assault

Robbery

Motor Vehicle Theft

Sex Offenses

Arson

Drug Arrests

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%

Below Average

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.

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

96Average

Estimated from IA state average + city premium

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Kansas Citypop. 500K

180 mi(312 min)

Minneapolispop. 430K

234 mi(406 min)

St. Louispop. 290K

274 mi(475 min)

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)

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