Mercer vs. Clarkson

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

Mercer Clarkson
Location Macon, GA Potsdam, NY
Setting Small City Remote Town
Enrollment 8,889 3,719
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #220
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu clarkson.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer Clarkson
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $54,960
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $54,960
Room & Board $14,046 $16,744
Avg Net Price $22,087 $32,450
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $41,285
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Mercer Clarkson
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 6,594
Admitted 5,643 5,171
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 78.4%
Enrolled % 15.9% 11.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 25/30
SAT Range 1190/1360 1190/1370
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 Jul 1, 2024 Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Mercer Clarkson
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Engineering (48%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Engineering Technology (9%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

Mercer Clarkson
Graduation Rate 60% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $70,800
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 86%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

Mercer Clarkson
% Men 33% 64%
% Women 67% 36%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 84%
% Black 31% 2%
% Hispanic 5% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

Mercer Clarkson
% In-State 86% 65%
% Out-of-State 13% 31%

Campus

Mercer Clarkson
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

  • Mercer University is larger than than Clarkson based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 3,719 students)

Mercer vs. Clarkson Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Clarkson?

  • Clarkson University is 39.5% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($54,960.00 vs. $39,408.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.5% higher at Clarkson than Mercer University ($54,960.00 vs. $39,408.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Clarkson ($22,087 vs. $32,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 19.2% lower than costs at Clarkson University ($14,046 vs. $16,744)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University as Clarkson University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Clarkson University students is 22.4% larger than aid received Mercer University ($41,285 vs. $33,740)

Mercer vs. Clarkson Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 19 points higher than at Clarkson (1198)
  • Incoming Mercer students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Clarkson (27)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Clarkson (3.8)
  • Clarkson has a higher acceptance rate (78.4%) than Mercer (74.7%)

Mercer vs. Clarkson Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Clarkson is higher than Mercer University (72% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Clarkson University earn on average $13,500 more per year than Mercer graduates after ten years. ($70,800 vs. $57,300)
  • Mercer University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Clarkson graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Mercer graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Clarkson graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Clarkson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 45%)

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