Human Resources Management and Services at Mount Mercy University

Cedar Rapids, IA · Private nonprofit · Bachelor's Degree
47 /100
DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case)
47
Optimistic
47
Base Case
41
Pessimistic
Earnings $48,722/yr (-6% vs median)
AI Risk High (48% exposed)
Job Market Very Large (253,500 openings/yr)
ROI 3.4x earnings multiple
Ranked #158 of 169 Human Resources Management and Services programs

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Human Resources Management and Services graduates.

Optimistic
No Disruption
Base Case
Gradual AI
Pessimistic
Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings $530K $526K $487K
Earnings Multiple 3.4x 3.4x 3.1x
Probability of Field Employment 47% 43% 32%
DegreeOutlook Score 47 47 41

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition (Sticker)
$156,280
4-Year Net Price (After Aid)
$93,740
40% less than sticker · See by income
Median Debt at Graduation
$25,982
6.4 months of Year 1 earnings
Reported Earnings (5 Year)
$55,899
15% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

First-year earnings of $48,722 track close to the $51,599 national median for Human Resources Management and Services programs. This is a middle-of-the-road outcome on salary alone.

An earnings multiple of 3.4x means ten-year projected earnings exceed tuition, but not by a dramatic margin. Returns are positive but modest.

Some AI exposure exists in Human Resources Management and Services's typical career paths, with 48% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 8% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $25,982 represents roughly 6 months of the $48,722 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

Ranked #158 of 169 Human Resources Management and Services programs, Mount Mercy University falls below the median. Stronger options exist, though cost and location may compensate.

Five-year earnings of $55,899 are relatively flat compared to the $48,722 starting salary — typical of fields with stable but capped salary bands.

About Mount Mercy University

Mount Mercy University has a 79% acceptance rate, making it broadly accessible, with a smaller student body of 1,135 in Cedar Rapids, IA. The average net cost of $93,740 over four years represents a 40% discount from published tuition.

See all programs and financial aid at Mount Mercy University →

Top Career Paths

Compensation and benefits managers $140,360/yr
Human resources managers $140,030/yr
Training and development managers $127,090/yr
View all 13 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

Human Resources Management and Services at Other Schools

Other Majors at Mount Mercy University

Consider the Trade Route?

Trade programs often mean less time in school, lower student debt, and hands-on career paths that tend to be more resilient to AI disruption.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Human Resources Management and Services at Mount Mercy University?
A score of 47/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Human Resources Management and Services. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.
Will AI replace Human Resources Management and Services careers?
With 48% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $486,812 in decade earnings vs $529,869 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.
Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →