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Georgia State KSU Georgia VSU Emory Berry College North Georgia Georgia College Georgia Tech Auburn FAU Ogelthorpe| Georgia Southern University | Mercer University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
GS | Mercer | ||
| Location | Statesboro, GA | Macon, GA | ||
| Setting | Remote Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 26,041 | 9,124 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #931 | #221 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | georgiasouthern.edu | mercer.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
GS | Mercer | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $4,371 | $40,590 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $15,425 | $40,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $10,993 | $14,528 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,957 | $24,197 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,075 | $32,402 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 89% | 100% |
Admission |
GS | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,410 | 11,058 | ||
| Admitted | 12,916 | 7,349 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 89.6% | 66.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 36.8% | 13.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.36 | 3.98 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/23 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 980/1160 | 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 |
GS | Mercer | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 24:1 | 13:1 | ||
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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 | 4% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 10% | 32% | ||
| 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 | 91% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 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 (26,041 students vs. 9,124 students)
GS vs. Mercer Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, GS or Mercer?
- Mercer University is 828.6% more expensive to attend than GS for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $4,371.00)
- Out of state tuition is 163.1% higher at Mercer than Georgia Southern University ($40,590.00 vs. $15,425.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia Southern University than Mercer ($16,957 vs. $24,197)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia Southern University are 32.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($10,993 vs. $14,528)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Georgia Southern University (100% vs. 89%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 301.3% larger than aid received Georgia Southern University ($32,402 vs. $8,075)
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 (89.6%) than Mercer (66.5%)
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/