Mercer University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Macon, Georgia. It enrolls 4,500 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Strong
70/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes72
Value40
Affordability45
Selectivity73
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 68.9%, Mercer University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
68.9%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
1160 – 1350
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
25 – 31
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Mercer University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
7.8 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Mercer University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $23,847 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$23,847
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
62%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$42,312
Room & Board (on-campus)
$15,156
Room & Board (off-campus)
$15,156
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,866
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,866
Total Cost of Attendance
$58,204
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$19,817
$30,001 – $48,000
$21,484
$48,001 – $75,000
$22,533
$75,001 – $110,000
$25,184
Over $110,000
$26,770
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,90410%percentile
$9,75025%percentile
$24,199Medianpercentile
$31,00075%percentile
$41,97590%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $3,699
No Pell $13,196
↓ $11,003
Dependent students $16,750
↓ $7,449
Independent students $19,000
↓ $5,199
Female students $17,842
↓ $6,357
Male students $17,500
↓ $6,699
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,750, less than completers ($24,199), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
58% of full-time students who enrolled at Mercer University graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
58%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Mercer University earn a median of $58,354 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$58,354
Earning > $25K
80%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$52,700
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$72,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$55,300
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,600
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$62,300
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $20,100, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
22.5 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 73% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Mercer University is home to 4,500 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
4,500
Part-Time
11%
First-Generation
28%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 40.6%1,829
Black 32.4%1,456
Hispanic 9.1%410
Asian 8.4%378
Other 4.4%197
International 2.6%115
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Mercer University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Midsize CityMacon, Georgia
Housing
Strongly residential3,205 beds for 4,500 students
Adult Learners
23%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Mercer University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
102 distinct programs across
24 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mercer University is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$662M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$84,927
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
476 instructional faculty across 6 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
127
27%
$97,613
Associate Professors
156
33%
$80,339
Assistant Professors
159
33%
$83,932
Instructors
4
1%
$54,886
Lecturers
29
6%
$66,336
No Rank
1
0%
$63,000
Pros & Cons of Mercer University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Mercer University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Frequently Asked Questions about Mercer University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Mercer University.
Is Mercer University hard to get into?
Admissions at Mercer University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 68.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Mercer University?
Mercer University has an acceptance rate of 68.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for Mercer University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Mercer University scored between 1160 and 1350 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for Mercer University?
The middle 50% of admitted students at Mercer University scored between 25 and 31 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does Mercer University cost?
The average net price after aid at Mercer University is $23,847 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Mercer University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $58,354 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $23,847 per year. That's roughly 2.4x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Mercer University known for?
Mercer University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12). These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Mercer University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Mercer University are $58,354, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Mercer University accredited?
Yes. Mercer University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Mercer University?
Mercer University enrolls 4,500 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Mercer University?
Mercer University graduates 58% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Mercer University a public or private college?
Mercer University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Mercer University located?
Mercer University is located in Macon, Georgia.
What programs does Mercer University offer?
Mercer University offers 102 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Nursing, Teacher Education (K-12).
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Mercer University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mercer University is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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