Gwynedd Mercy University vs DeSales University
Gwynedd Mercy University and DeSales University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Pennsylvania, offer distinct educational experiences. Gwynedd Mercy, a private Catholic university, boasts a higher acceptance rate (75%) compared to DeSales' 67%. DeSales, on the other hand, has a slightly larger student body, with over 2,800 undergraduates, while Gwynedd Mercy hosts around 2,200. While both universities offer a diverse range of majors, Gwynedd Mercy is known for its strengths in nursing and health sciences, while DeSales excels in business and education. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences, including graduation rates, student demographics, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() DeSales University |
![]() Gwynedd Mercy University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Center Valley, Pennsylvania | Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania |
Campus setting | Rural: Fringe | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 81.0% | 80.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | Catholic | Catholic |
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 78.2% | 90.6% |
Application fees | $50 | |
SAT range | 1080 - 1260 | 990 - 1200 |
ACT range | 23 - 29 | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | 31.0% | 33.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 4.0% | 1.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,554 | 904 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,780 | 819 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 516 | 177 |
Yield rate | 18.6% | 21.6% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price | $56,182 | $55,418 |
Average net price | $27,965 | $25,843 |
Tuition | $39,500 | $35,344 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$6,400
Meal plan:
$6,900
|
Room/dormitory:
$5,630
Meal plan:
$6,640
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $27,263 |
99.0%
Average amount $22,811 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
71.0%
Average amount $5,226 |
72.0%
Average amount $5,356 |
Students taking out private loans |
17.0%
Average amount $18,524 |
23.0%
Average amount $15,362 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
2,309
Men 36.6% Women 63.4% |
1,792
Men 28.2% Women 71.8% |
Graduate students |
792
Men 32.8% Women 67.2% |
729
Men 20.0% Women 80.0% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | 31.0% | N/A |
International students | 0.3% | 0.2% |
Campus local/setting | Rural: Fringe | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,160 | 531 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Pennsylvania New Jersey New York Delaware Maryland | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | Middle States Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 69.3% | 54.6% |
Dropout rate | 16.6% | 45.0% |
Transferred out | 13.4% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Master's Degrees)
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.









































































































































































































































