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Georgia Georgia State Emory UT KSU Nova Berry College Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Eckerd College Auburn| Florida Southern College | Mercer University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
| Location | Lakeland, FL | Macon, GA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 3,194 | 9,124 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #294 | #221 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | flsouthern.edu | mercer.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $41,500 | $40,590 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $41,500 | $40,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,800 | $14,528 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $30,462 | $24,197 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $26,704 | $32,402 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,874 | 11,058 | ||
| Admitted | 6,423 | 7,349 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 59.1% | 66.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10% | 13.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.73 | 3.98 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 25/30 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1310 | 1180/1350 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
| Graduation Rate | 55% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $42,700 | $57,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $258 |
Diversity |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 6% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 12% | 32% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 62% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 36% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Florida Southern | Mercer | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Mercer University is larger than than Florida Southern based on total student enrollment (9,124 students vs. 3,194 students)
Florida Southern vs. Mercer Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Florida Southern or Mercer?
- Florida Southern College is 2.2% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($41,500.00 vs. $40,590.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.2% higher at Florida Southern than Mercer University ($41,500.00 vs. $40,590.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Florida Southern ($24,197 vs. $30,462)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida Southern College are 5.3% lower than costs at Mercer University ($13,800 vs. $14,528)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Florida Southern College as Mercer University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 21.3% larger than aid received Florida Southern College ($32,402 vs. $26,704)
Florida Southern vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Florida Southern or Mercer? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercer or Florida Southern .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 45 points higher than at Florida Southern (1172)
- Incoming Florida Southern students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Mercer (27)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Florida Southern (3.73)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (66.5%) than Florida Southern (59.1%)
Florida Southern vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Florida Southern or Mercer? 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 Mercer and Florida Southern.
- The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than Florida Southern College (60% vs. 55%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $14,600 more per year than Florida Southern graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $42,700)
- Florida Southern College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($24,000 vs. $25,000)
- Florida Southern graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
- More Florida Southern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/