GS vs. Mercer

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

GS Mercer
Location Statesboro, GA Macon, GA
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 25,481 8,889
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #939 #236
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website georgiasouthern.edu mercer.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GS Mercer
Tuition (In State) $4,371 $39,408
Tuition (Out of State) $15,425 $39,408
Room & Board $10,316 $14,046
Avg Net Price $15,352 $22,087
Avg Grant Aid $8,806 $33,740
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 100%

Admission

GS Mercer
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 14,680 7,556
Admitted 13,049 5,643
Acceptance Rate 88.9% 74.7%
Enrolled % 33.4% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.36 3.98
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23 26/31
SAT Range 980/1150 1190/1360
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 1, 2024 Jul 1, 2024

Academics

GS Mercer
Student to Faculty Ratio 22:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Engineering Technology (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

GS Mercer
Graduation Rate 47% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,800 $57,300
Making Student Loan Payments 52% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $237 $258

Diversity

GS Mercer
% Men 40% 33%
% Women 60% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 48%
% Black 26% 31%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

GS Mercer
% In-State 93% 86%
% Out-of-State 6% 13%

Campus

GS 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

  • Georgia Southern University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (25,481 students vs. 8,889 students)

GS vs. Mercer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GS or Mercer?

  • Mercer University is 801.6% more expensive to attend than GS for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $4,371.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 155.5% higher at Mercer than Georgia Southern University ($39,408.00 vs. $15,425.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia Southern University than Mercer ($15,352 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Southern University are 36.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($10,316 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Georgia Southern University (100% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 283.1% larger than aid received Georgia Southern University ($33,740 vs. $8,806)

GS vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 128 points higher than at GS (1089)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at GS (23)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.62 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at GS (3.36)
  • GS has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Mercer (74.7%)

GS vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GS 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 GS.

  • The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than Georgia Southern University (60% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $12,500 more per year than GS graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $44,800)
  • Georgia Southern University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,000)
  • GS graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($237 vs. $258)
  • More GS graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (52% vs. 45%)

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