Mercer vs. Clemson

Should I go to Mercer University or Clemson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercer or Clemson is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Mercer University vs. Clemson University comparison
Mercer University Clemson University College 3 College 4
Mercer University Clemson University
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Overview

Mercer Clemson
Location Macon, GA Clemson, SC
Setting Small City Distant Town
Enrollment 8,889 28,466
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #133
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu clemson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer Clemson
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $14,118
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $38,062
Room & Board $14,046 $12,350
Avg Net Price $22,087 $24,577
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $10,430
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 79%

Admission

Mercer Clemson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 52,819
Admitted 5,643 22,704
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 43%
Enrolled % 15.9% 20.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.75
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 28/32
SAT Range 1190/1360 1220/1410
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2024 May 1, 2024

Academics

Mercer Clemson
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Engineering (17%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Mercer Clemson
Graduation Rate 60% 80%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $57,100
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $258 $222

Diversity

Mercer Clemson
% Men 33% 48%
% Women 67% 52%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 83%
% Black 31% 7%
% Hispanic 5% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Mercer Clemson
% In-State 86% 52%
% Out-of-State 13% 46%

Campus

Mercer Clemson
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Clemson University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (28,466 students vs. 8,889 students)

Mercer vs. Clemson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Clemson?

  • Mercer University is 179.1% more expensive to attend than Clemson for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $14,118.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.5% higher at Mercer than Clemson University ($39,408.00 vs. $38,062.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Clemson ($22,087 vs. $24,577)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 13.7% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,350 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Clemson University (100% vs. 79%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 223.5% larger than aid received Clemson University ($33,740 vs. $10,430)

Mercer vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Clemson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clemson or Mercer .

  • The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 58 points higher than at Mercer (1217)
  • Incoming Clemson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Mercer (27)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Clemson (3.75)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Clemson (43%)

Mercer vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercer or Clemson? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Clemson and Mercer.

  • The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than Mercer University (80% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $200 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $57,100)
  • Clemson University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
  • Clemson graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
  • More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/