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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Auburn Lipscomb Ogelthorpe Elon| Harding University | Mercer University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Harding University | Mercer | ||
| Location | Searcy, AR | Macon, GA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,805 | 8,889 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #477 | #236 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Churches of Christ | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | harding.edu | mercer.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Harding University | Mercer | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $22,500 | $39,408 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $22,500 | $39,408 | ||
| Room & Board | $7,984 | $14,046 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,558 | $22,087 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $14,682 | $33,740 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 100% |
Admission |
Harding University | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 2,254 | 7,556 | ||
| Admitted | 1,017 | 5,643 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 45.1% | 74.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 78.9% | 15.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.71 | 3.98 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 20/28 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1040/1300 | 1190/1360 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Required to be considered for admission | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Harding University | Mercer | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Harding University | Mercer | ||
| Graduation Rate | 63% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,800 | $57,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 71% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $258 |
Diversity |
Harding University | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 83% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
Harding University | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 28% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 68% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Harding University | 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 Harding University based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 4,805 students)
Harding University vs. Mercer Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Harding University or Mercer?
- Mercer University is 75.1% more expensive to attend than Harding University for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- Out of state tuition is 75.1% higher at Mercer than Harding University ($39,408.00 vs. $22,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harding University than Mercer ($19,558 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Harding University are 75.9% lower than costs at Mercer University ($7,984 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Harding University (100% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 129.8% larger than aid received Harding University ($33,740 vs. $14,682)
Harding University vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Harding University or Mercer? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercer or Harding University .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 82 points higher than at Harding University (1135)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Harding University (25)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Harding University (3.71)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Harding University (45.1%)
Harding University vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Harding University 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 Harding University.
- The graduation rate at Harding University is higher than Mercer University (63% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $12,500 more per year than Harding University graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $44,800)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Harding University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- Mercer graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Harding University graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More Harding University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/