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Erie , PA
Mercyhurst University is a private, comprehensive, liberal arts institution located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Established in 1926 by the Sisters of Mercy, the university offers a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs. With a student population of approximately 3,000, Mercyhurst maintains a small and close-knit community where students receive personalized attention and support.
The university is known for its strong academic programs, particularly in fields such as intelligence studies, criminal justice, and archaeology. Mercyhurst has been recognized as one of the top schools in the nation for intelligence studies, offering specialized courses in terrorism, forensic science, and cybersecurity. Additionally, the university houses the Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute, where students have the opportunity to participate in real archaeological digs and gain hands-on experience.
Beyond academics, Mercyhurst University emphasizes a well-rounded education that includes extracurricular activities and community engagement opportunities. The university offers over 50 student-run clubs and organizations, providing students with various ways to get involved and pursue their passions. Mercyhurst also has a strong athletic program, competing at the NCAA Division II level. The Lakers participate in a variety of sports, including ice hockey, lacrosse, basketball, and soccer, fostering school spirit and a sense of community among students. Overall, Mercyhurst University provides a holistic educational experience that prepares students for successful careers and active citizenship.
Mercyhurst University is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Erie, PA. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 81%. The freshman retention rate at Mercyhurst University is 79.5% and the six-year graduation rate is 66%.
To find out more about what Mercyhurst University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
2,274
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$44,340
Tuition
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
66%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to maximize your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission. Check out some essential data about admission at Mercyhurst University.
According to the newest information reported, this institution uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 2,890 in 2025.
Test Scores
28% of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students submitted their SAT scores for admission, and 12% submitted ACT scores, out of the total number of those who submitted test scores. 5% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 37% between 1,200 and 1,399, 44% between 1,000 and 1,199, and 14% of the students between 800 and 999. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 26, 44 between 24-29, 29 in the range between 18-23, and 1 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.55. Therefore, the chances are that you'll need a GPA higher than the average for acceptance,.
Retention Rate
The percentage of new students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Mercyhurst University was 79.5% in 2025, a reflection of the high standards and excellent educational experience at this school.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. The six-year graduation rate at this school is 66%, which is considered an above-average graduation rate.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2025, the institution enrolled 2,632 students.
The school reported an out-of-state student body portion of 41.5% for that year. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the school was 2,274, 126 of which were foreign students. The number of transfer students at this school was 96.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,022 male and 1,346 female full-time students in 2025, which speaks volumes for gender equality at this institution.
Student Population Diversity
In order to enhance a sense of inclusion and belonging among its students, higher education is dedicated to increasing student diversity. Diversity promotes critical thinking, challenges preconceived notions, and encourages intellectual growth, so it helps students develop empathy and a broader understanding of the world. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
This school had 34 Asian students and 162 Afro-American students in 2025. 116 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 3 as multirace. The school also had 5 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 7 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 123 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before you submit an application to any college or university, you should take into account the financial component. Here are some important facts on Mercyhurst University costs that most students encounter at this school.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Mercyhurst University? Here is what you need to know.
Tuition in 2025 was $44,340 for full-time domestic students. Mercyhurst University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students. Fees per academic year required of full-time students amounted to $2,930 in 2025.
Books and Supplies
Another important financial factor to consider is the estimated price of books and supplies for a college or university. The estimated cost of books and supplies for full-time students of this school is $1,200.
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. What do schools typically charge for room and board?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Mercyhurst University was $13,288 in 2025. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $5,946 for the 2025 academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was $450.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 44,340 |
| Room and Board | $ 13,288 |
| Book and Supplies | $ 1,200 |
| Total Expense | $ 58,828 |
Financial Aid
Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs: these are all types of financial support for students. If you are interested in finding out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Mercyhurst University, here are some recent data you should take into consideration.
The most recent records show that 435 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $37,442.65.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet certain eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 1,477 students who obtained need-based financial aid of any kind. Need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid at Mercyhurst University is available to international students. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 1,506. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution reached $5,339,735, and state $3,287,128. The students of Mercyhurst University received the -institutional need-based aid in the amount of $33,945,519, and external in the amount of $747,225.
$21,069
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 272 students overall (including freshmen) at Mercyhurst University in 2025. Institutional help in the form of non-need-based scholarships or grants was given to 92 full-time freshmen. Federal non-need-based scholarships and grants totaled $5,339,735 for students at this institution, while state aid came to $855,064. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $13,881,244. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $362,418 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Open Applications
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Majors
Faculty
14:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio represents the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Mercyhurst University was 14:1: that means 14 students per one teacher. This school has recently reported to have 237 faculty members. This number included 106 male and 131 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Mercyhurst University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Mercyhurst University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about campus life at Mercyhurst University.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Mercyhurst University band or chorus. Interested in media and communication? Mercyhurst University publishes its own newspaper.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Mercyhurst University.
Career Counselling
There are a job bank and job fairs. There is campus employer recruitment for all the students. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Mercyhurst University is located in Erie, PA.
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Mercyhurst University offers need-based college-administered scholarship and grant aid to international students.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Mercyhurst University is 44,340 USD a year.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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According to the latest information, the acceptance rate for Mercyhurst University is 81%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Mercyhurst University is 79.5%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.