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Mercy College of Health Sciences — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · Des Moines, IA · 867 students

The verdict

Mercy College of Health Sciences charges a net price of $26,924/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $107,696. Graduates earn a median $62,234 ten years after entry, $13,874/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 7.8 years — a 20-year net return of $169,784, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Mercy College of Health Sciences's 7.8-year payback ranks #677 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 47% of them, and #6 of 47 in Iowa.

Better ROI than 47% of US colleges#677 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$26,924
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$62,234
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
7.8 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
100%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Mercy College of Health Sciences: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$26,924/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$107,696our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$62,234Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$13,874/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$14,745Scorecard, 2026
Payback7.8 yrsour math
20-year net return$169,784our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Mercy College of Health Sciences's own numbers. Net price $26,924 × 4 years = $107,696 total. Median earnings $62,234 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $13,874 a year of premium. $107,696 ÷ $13,874 = 7.8 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $169,784. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Mercy College of Health Sciences students graduate with?

A median $14,745 in federal loans among completers, or 24% of the $62,234 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Mercy College of Health Sciences students graduate?

66% finish their degree — 34% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $107,696 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $163,176 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Mercy College of Health Sciences expensive compared with other Iowa colleges?

Its $26,924 net price runs $8,335 above the $18,589 median across the 47 Iowa colleges we profile, or $33,340 more across the full degree.

Mercy College of Health Sciences: frequently asked questions

Is Mercy College of Health Sciences worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Mercy College of Health Sciences charges $26,924/yr after aid ($107,696 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $62,234 ten years out — $13,874/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 7.8 years and returns $169,784 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Mercy College of Health Sciences degree take to pay off?
About 7.8 years. We divide the $107,696 four-year net cost by the $13,874/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Mercy College of Health Sciences cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $26,924/yr — about $107,696 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Mercy College of Health Sciences compare to other Iowa colleges?
It ranks #6 of 47 Iowa colleges we track by payback. Its $62,234 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $26,924 net price is above the national median of $16,902.