Mercer vs. Tennessee

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

Mercer Tennessee
Location Macon, GA Knoxville, TN
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 8,889 33,805
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #232
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu tennessee.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer Tennessee
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $11,332
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $29,522
Room & Board $14,046 $12,150
Avg Net Price $22,087 $21,880
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $10,593
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 88%

Admission

Mercer Tennessee
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 36,290
Admitted 5,643 24,826
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 68.4%
Enrolled % 15.9% 27.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.66
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 25/31
SAT Range 1190/1360 1170/1330
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Required to be considered for admission
Application Deadline Jul 1, 2024

Academics

Mercer Tennessee
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Engineering (8%)

Outcomes

Mercer Tennessee
Graduation Rate 60% 63%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $56,300
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $206

Diversity

Mercer Tennessee
% Men 33% 45%
% Women 67% 55%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 79%
% 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% 3%

Students

Mercer Tennessee
% In-State 86% 54%
% Out-of-State 13% 45%

Campus

Mercer Tennessee
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

  • The University of Tennessee is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (33,805 students vs. 8,889 students)

Mercer vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Tennessee?

  • Mercer University is 247.8% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $11,332.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 33.5% higher at Mercer than The University of Tennessee ($39,408.00 vs. $29,522.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Mercer ($21,880 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 15.6% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,150 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than The University of Tennessee (100% vs. 88%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 218.5% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($33,740 vs. $10,593)

Mercer vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 3 points higher than at Tennessee (1214)
  • Incoming Mercer students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Tennessee (27)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Tennessee (68.4%)

Mercer vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Tennessee is higher than Mercer University (63% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $1,000 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $56,300)
  • The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Tennessee graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($206 vs. $258)
  • More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 45%)

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