Quad

Head-to-head

Columbia
Mercy

Key differences

The biggest gaps between these schools, largest first.

  1. 1

    Mercy graduates 21 pts more of its students than Columbia (57% vs. 35%)

    Graduation rate
  2. 2

    Columbia has 7 pts more first-gen students than Mercy (49% vs. 42%)

    First-generation students
  3. 3

    Mercy grads earn $6.7K more ten years out than Columbia's ($52,055 vs. $45,378)

    Median earnings, 10 yrs
  4. 4

    Mercy has 5 pts more Pell recipients than Columbia (50% vs. 45%)

    Pell Grant recipients
  5. 5

    Mercy's grants cover 41% of its full price on average, vs. 37% at Columbia

    Aid generosity
  6. 6

    Mercy is a bit larger (5,735 vs. 4,950)

    Undergrads

The shape of each school

Each axis is a national rank among 4-year colleges; further out = more of it.

SelectivityTest scoresSizePell shareFirst-genDiversity

Hollow dots at the center mean that measure isn't reported.

Who's hardest to get into

Mercy admits 86%; Columbia doesn't report an acceptance rate.

Acceptance rate
ColumbiaNot reported
Mercy86%
Quad's selectivity
  • ColumbiaNot rated
  • MercyAccessible
SAT middle 50%
ColumbiaNot reported
MercyTest-blind
How they read a recordfirst-years at 3.75+
  • ColumbiaNot reported
  • MercyGPA and school record required

Who's on each campus

Mercy is a bit larger than Columbia (5,735 vs. 4,950 undergrads) and has the larger Pell share.

Undergrads
Columbia5K
Mercy5.7K
Pell Grant share
Columbia45%
Mercy50%

Majors and faculty

General Studies leads at Columbia, and Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse at Mercy; Mercy has 16 students per faculty member to Columbia's 20.

Students per faculty member
Columbia20 to 1
Mercy16 to 1
Most popular majorshare of graduates
  • ColumbiaGeneral Studies18%
  • MercyRegistered Nursing/Registered Nurse26%

What each costs

Columbia and Mercy cost about the same a year on average; Mercy's grants cover the larger share of its price.

Average cost, all students
Columbia$24.5K
Mercy$25K
Aid generosity
Columbia37%
Mercy41%

What each pays off

Mercy's former students earn more, a median $52.1K ten years after enrolling; six-year graduation runs from 57% at Mercy to 35% at Columbia.

Median earnings, 10 years
Columbia$45.4K
Mercy$52.1K
Graduation rate
Columbia35%
Mercy57%

How each has changed

Applications grew at Mercy, which got less selective.

Applications, 10-year change
  • ColumbiaNot reported
  • MercyGrowing+51%
All the numbersEvery figure for these colleges in one table, with differences highlighted.
Sources for this comparisonEvery dataset and year behind the numbers in this comparison; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, Fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey, 2023–24;IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey, 2023–24;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023;IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D), Fall 2024;IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field), 2024–25 graduates;College Scorecard, 2023–24;IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients), Entered fall 2018About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why