UPMC Mercy School of Nursing — ROI, Cost & Payback
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing charges a net price of $33,159/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $132,636. Graduates earn a median $68,337 ten years after entry, $19,977/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 6.6 years — a 20-year net return of $266,904, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
UPMC Mercy School of Nursing's 6.6-year payback ranks #586 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 54% of them, and #56 of 169 in Pennsylvania.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $33,159/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $132,636 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $68,337 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $19,977/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $14,750 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 6.6 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $266,904 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on UPMC Mercy School of Nursing's own numbers. Net price $33,159 × 4 years = $132,636 total. Median earnings $68,337 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $19,977 a year of premium. $132,636 ÷ $19,977 = 6.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $266,904. 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 UPMC Mercy School of Nursing students graduate with?
A median $14,750 in federal loans among completers, or 22% of the $68,337 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of UPMC Mercy School of Nursing students graduate?
33% finish their degree — 67% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $132,636 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $401,927 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is UPMC Mercy School of Nursing expensive compared with other Pennsylvania colleges?
Its $33,159 net price runs $11,418 above the $21,741 median across the 169 Pennsylvania colleges we profile, or $45,672 more across the full degree.