Mercer vs. Elon

Should I go to Mercer University or Elon University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercer or Elon 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. Elon University comparison
Mercer University Elon University College 3 College 4
Mercer University Elon University
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Overview

Mercer Elon
Location Macon, GA Elon, NC
Setting Small City Small Suburban
Enrollment 8,889 7,123
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #116
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu elon.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer Elon
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $41,734
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $41,734
Room & Board $14,046 $13,886
Avg Net Price $22,087 $41,527
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $13,880
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 68%

Admission

Mercer Elon
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 17,551
Admitted 5,643 13,069
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 74.5%
Enrolled % 15.9% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.65
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 25/30
SAT Range 1190/1360 1170/1360
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 Jan 10, 2024

Academics

Mercer Elon
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Communication (19%)
  • Social Sciences (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)

Outcomes

Mercer Elon
Graduation Rate 60% 82%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $56,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $258 $240

Diversity

Mercer Elon
% Men 33% 40%
% Women 67% 60%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 82%
% Black 31% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Mercer Elon
% In-State 86% 18%
% Out-of-State 13% 80%

Campus

Mercer Elon
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

  • Mercer University is larger than than Elon based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 7,123 students)

Mercer vs. Elon Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Elon?

  • Elon University is 5.9% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($41,734.00 vs. $39,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 5.9% higher at Elon than Mercer University ($41,734.00 vs. $39,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Elon ($22,087 vs. $41,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 1.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($13,886 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Elon University (100% vs. 68%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 143.1% larger than aid received Elon University ($33,740 vs. $13,880)

Mercer vs. Elon Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 6 points higher than at Elon (1211)
  • Incoming Mercer students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Elon (27)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Elon (3.65)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Elon (74.5%)

Mercer vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercer or Elon? 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 Elon and Mercer.

  • The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Mercer University (82% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $1,100 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $56,200)
  • Elon University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
  • Elon graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
  • More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 45%)

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