Grinnell College vs Mount Mercy University: which has better ROI?
Grinnell College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,592 in 4.9 years versus 6.5 years at Mount Mercy University, on median earnings of $62,830 vs $60,787 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Grinnell College | Mount Mercy University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,648 | $20,168 |
| Total net cost | $70,592 | $80,672 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $62,830 | $60,787 |
| Median debt | $17,500 | $23,699 |
| Payback | 4.9 yrs | 6.5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $218,808 | $167,868 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Grinnell College or Mount Mercy University?
Grinnell College, at $17,648 a year after aid versus $20,168 — a gap of $2,520 a year, or $10,080 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Grinnell College or Mount Mercy University graduates earn more?
Grinnell College graduates report a median $62,830 ten years after entry, $2,043 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, Grinnell College or Mount Mercy University?
Grinnell College: its completers carry a median $17,500 in federal loans versus $23,699 at Mount Mercy University, a difference of $6,199. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
88% of students finish at Grinnell College, 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.