Financial Aid Resources
Mount Mercy is committed to making your education affordable. Here are a few helpful resources:
Freshmen Scholarships
Open to incoming freshmen for Fall 2021.
- $20,000 Presidential Scholarship: Minimum GPA of 4.0 OR ACT of 30 (SAT 1360) OR #1 class rank
- $16,000 Distinguished Scholarship: Minimum GPA of 3.7 OR ACT of 26 (SAT 1230)
- $14,000 Dean's Scholarship: Minimum GPA of 3.3 OR ACT of 22 (SAT 1100)
- $12,000 Collegiate Scholarship: Minimum GPA of 3.0 OR ACT of 20 (SAT 1030)
- $10,000 Founders Scholarship: GPA less than 3.0 OR ACT less than 20 (SAT less than 1030)
- Must be enrolled full-time to receive full award
- Academic awards listed above assume on campus residency and will be reduced by $3,500 for students who commute
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
SAT scores noted above and throughout this website reflect tests taken after after March 2016.
Open to incoming freshmen only for Fall 2021.
- Requires minimum 26 ACT (SAT 1230) composite and 3.7 cumulative GPA
- Scholarship awarded from participation in Scholarship Day
- Evidence of strong community service and extra-curricular activities desired
- FAFSA must be filed by July 1
- Student will be required to live on-campus
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Supersedes all other Mount Mercy University scholarships and grants
- Apply for the Holland Scholarship—deadline to apply is March 1, 2021
Open to incoming freshmen only for Fall 2021.
- Need-based free tuition award
- Income guidelines apply
- FAFSA must be filed by July 1 in first year, May 1 in subsequent years
- Must be Iowa resident and graduate from an Iowa high school
- Student will be required to live on-campus
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Supersedes all other Mount Mercy University scholarships and grants
- Learn more about the Catherine McAuley Scholarship
Open to incoming freshmen only for Fall 2020.
- Students must participate in Scholarship Day
- Students must be admitted to Mount Mercy by February 13, 2021
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- RSVP for Scholarship Day
- Need-based
- Awarded to students who reside outside of Iowa
- Must enroll full-time status
- Maximum award of $3,500, determined annually by financial need and residential status.
- On campus, EFC $13,500 or below=$3,500
- On campus, EFC above $13,500=$2,000
- Off campus, EFC $13,500=$1,500
- Off campus, EFC above $13,500=$1,000
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Scholarships in the areas of instrumental music, vocal music, and show choir
- Auditions/interviews offered individually after student is admitted
- Open to all majors
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Learn more about the scholarships and schedule an audition
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Scholarships in the areas of art & design and writing
- Open to all majors
- $3,000 available for incoming full-time freshmen
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Learn more about the scholarships and submit your portfolio or writings
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Open to all majors
- $3,000 available for incoming full-time freshmen (Priority deadline is February, 2021)
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Submit your application
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Awarded to entering full-time students academically eligible to compete in NAIA athletic events
- Coaches of each sport with work with the athletic director and Student Financial Services Office to award the scholarship
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Must be an incoming freshmen
- Must declare an education major
- Must be enrolled full-time
- Renewable annually for up to four years
- Submit your application by February 1, 2021
Open to incoming freshmen only.
- Graduates of a Cristo Rey Network High School
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen only.
- Cumulative high school GPA of 3.25 or higher
- Must declare a business major of some type: accounting, finance, human resource management, management, or marketing
- Must be enrolled full-time
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Submit your application by February 1, 2021
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students. This scholarship is awarded through through the Department of Psychology, Sociology, Social Work & International Studies.
- Scholarship applications and materials are required (expectations vary by application and program)
- Incoming freshmen: 2.5 or higher high school GPA
- Transfer students: 2.5 or higher college transfer GPA
- Demonstration of ability, talent, and dedication in major area of study
- Must enroll at least half-time
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Submit your application
Open to incoming freshmen only.
- Eligible for the honors program at Mount Mercy
- Minimum ACT of 26 (SAT 1230), top 25% class rank, and 3.6 GPA
- Participation in the honors program required
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Learn more about the Honors Program
- Submit your application by March 1, 2021
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Must be nominated by a parent, grandparent or sibling who has graduated from Mount Mercy
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Refer a prospective student for this scholarship by February 1, 2021
- Graduates of Catholic high schools
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Recipients selected by parish priest
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Recommend a student by February 1, 2021
Transfer Scholarships
Open to incoming transfer students.
- $14,500—Minimum college GPA of 3.7
- $13,000—Minimum college GPA of 3.3
- $12,000—Minimum college GPA of 2.8
- $11,000—Minimum college GPA of 2.5
- $10,000—Minimum college GPA of 2.0
- Must be enrolled full-time to receive full award
- Awards will be reduced for part-time enrollment
- Must be enrolled a minimum of 6 hours to receive a partial award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Need-based
- Awarded to students who reside outside of Iowa
- Must enroll full-time status
- Maximum award of $3,500, determined annually by financial need and residential status.
- On campus, EFC $13,500 or below=$3,500
- On campus, EFC above $13,500=$2,000
- Off campus, EFC $13,500=$1,500
- Off campus, EFC above $13,500=$1,000
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Scholarships in the areas of instrumental music, vocal music, and show choir
- Auditions/interviews offered individually after student is admitted
- Open to all majors
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Learn more about the scholarships and schedule an audition
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Scholarships in the areas of art & design and writing
- Open to all majors
- $2,000 available for full-time transfer students
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Learn more about the scholarships and submit your portfolio or writings
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Open to all majors
- $2,000 available for full-time transfer students (Priority deadline is July 1, 2021)
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Submit your application
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Awarded to entering full-time students academically eligible to compete in NAIA athletic events
- Coaches of each sport with work with the athletic director and Student Financial Services Office to award the scholarship
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students. This scholarship is awarded through through the Department of Psychology, Sociology, Social Work & International Studies.
- Scholarship applications and materials are required (expectations vary by application and program)
- Transfer students: 2.5 or higher college transfer GPA
- Demonstration of ability, talent, and dedication in major area of study
- Must enroll at least half-time
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Submit your application
Open to incoming transfer students only.
- For students admitted prior to May 1 (fall entry) or December 1 (spring entry)
- College GPA of 3.3 or higher or member of Phi Theta Kappa or Kappa Beta Delta
- Must be enrolled full-time
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Must be nominated by a parent, grandparent or sibling who has graduated from Mount Mercy
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Refer a prospective student for this scholarship by February 1, 2021
- Graduates of Catholic high schools
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Recipients selected by parish priest
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Recommend a student by February 1, 2021
Open to transfer students only.
- Must apply to Mount Mercy by July 1st (fall entry) or December 1st (spring entry)
- Must be enrolled full-time
International Scholarships
- $15,500—Minimum GPA of 3.7
- $14,500—Minimum GPA of 3.3
- $13,500—Minimum GPA of 2.8
- $12,500—Minimum GPA of 2.5
- $11,500—Minimum GPA of 2.0
- Must be enrolled full-time to receive the full award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Must reside each year on campus
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Available to international students transferring from a community college that has a guaranteed admission agreement with Mount Mercy.
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Awarded to entering full-time students academically eligible to compete in NAIA athletic events
- Coaches of each sport with work with the athletic director and Student Financial Services Office to award the scholarship
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Scholarships in the areas of art & design and writing
- Open to all majors
- $2,000 available for full-time transfer students
- $3,000 available for incoming full-time freshmen
- Students may only receive one athletic, creative talent, music, or sustainability scholarship in addition to their MMU academic award
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Learn more about the scholarships and submit your portfolio or writings
Open to incoming freshmen only for Fall 2021.
- Students must participate in Scholarship Day
- Students must be admitted to Mount Mercy by January 13, 2021
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- RSVP for Scholarship Day
Open to incoming transfer students only.
- For students admitted prior to May 1 (fall entry) or December 1 (spring entry)
- College GPA of 3.3 or higher or member of Phi Theta Kappa or Kappa Beta Delta
- Must be enrolled full-time
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
Open to incoming freshmen and transfer students.
- Must be nominated by a parent, grandparent or sibling who has graduated from Mount Mercy
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
- Refer a prospective student for this scholarship by February 1, 2021
- Graduates of Catholic high schools
- Must enroll with full-time status
- Renewable annually for up to 4 years
State & Federal Programs or Grants
- Need-based
- Must reside in Iowa
- Must complete FAFSA by July 1
- *Amount determined by Iowa Legislature
- Need-based
- Apply by filing a FAFSA
- Award determined by number of credit hours student is taking and Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
- No repayment required unless student changes credit hours or withdraws from school
- Must file a FAFSA
- Must be a U.S. citizen enrolled in a qualified teacher education program
- Students must also sign an Agreement to Serve (ATS) that obligates them to teach for 4 years within 8 years of completing or ceasing enrollment in a TEACH grant eligible program
- If obligation is not met the grant converts to an unsubsidized loan and must be repaid with interest
- A student must teach in a low income elementary or secondary school in a high need field
- A cumulative GPA of 3.25 must be maintained
- Awarded to undergraduates with exceptional financial need, that is, students with the lowest Expected Family Contributions
- No guarantee every eligible student will be able to receive a FSEOG
- Awards are based on the availability of funds at Mount Mercy