“Rooted in Mercy — educated for life, service, and leadership”
Mount Mercy University is a private, Catholic university founded in 1928 by the Sisters of Mercy and located on a 40-acre residential campus in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Serving approximately 2,200 students, Mount Mercy offers more than 40 undergraduate and nine graduate programs rooted in the Mercy tradition of service, compassion, and excellence. The university stands out for its exceptional international student presence — 11% of students come from around the globe, making it one of the most internationally diverse small Catholic universities in the Midwest. Nursing is the crown jewel of Mount Mercy: its Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is the longest-established baccalaureate nursing program in the state of Iowa, producing generations of nurses who serve the region. Business, education, criminal justice, and social work programs round out a strong professional curriculum. Cedar Rapids, Iowa — the state's second-largest city — provides students with a thriving Midwest employment market, affordable cost of living, and a remarkably international community (home to one of the largest Bosnian immigrant communities in the US). Mount Mercy is currently in a strategic combination with St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA), with full integration expected in Summer 2026; the Mount Mercy programs and Cedar Rapids campus will continue as the Mount Mercy Campus of St. Ambrose University, preserving academic continuity for enrolled and future students.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Optional — You can submit scores if they help your case, but they're not required.
Official SourceThe deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$40,878 – $52,000
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Home to Iowa's longest-established BSN program, delivering rigorous nursing education with strong clinical placements at Mercy Medical Center and other Cedar Rapids healthcare facilities. MSN programs available for advanced practice.
Practical, values-driven business education with a focus on ethical leadership and Cedar Rapids-area employer connections. MBA program for graduate-level advancement.
Liberal arts core and pre-professional programs spanning biology, chemistry, criminal justice, psychology, social work, communication, and computer science.
Initial and continuing licensure programs for elementary and secondary educators, with strong Iowa teacher placement outcomes and field experience embedded from year one.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $40,878
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
