Drake University vs Mount Mercy University: which has better ROI?
Drake University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $116,508 in 4.9 years versus 6.5 years at Mount Mercy University, on median earnings of $71,901 vs $60,787 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Drake University | Mount Mercy University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,127 | $20,168 |
| Total net cost | $116,508 | $80,672 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $71,901 | $60,787 |
| Median debt | $23,000 | $23,699 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $354,312 | $167,868 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Drake University or Mount Mercy University?
Mount Mercy University, at $20,168 a year after aid versus $29,127 — a gap of $8,959 a year, or $35,836 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Drake University or Mount Mercy University graduates earn more?
Drake University graduates report a median $71,901 ten years after entry, $11,114 more than the $60,787 at Mount Mercy University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Drake University or Mount Mercy University?
Drake University: its completers carry a median $23,000 in federal loans versus $23,699 at Mount Mercy University, a difference of $699. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
74% of students finish at Drake University, against 58% at Mount Mercy University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.