Mercer vs. Mississippi State

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

Mercer Mississippi State
Location Macon, GA Mississippi State, MS
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 8,889 22,649
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #523
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu msstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer Mississippi State
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $9,248
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $25,294
Room & Board $14,046 $10,964
Avg Net Price $22,087 $15,364
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $14,252
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 98%

Admission

Mercer Mississippi State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 18,830
Admitted 5,643 14,158
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 75.2%
Enrolled % 15.9% 23.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.58
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 21/29
SAT Range 1190/1360 1070/1280
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 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Mercer Mississippi State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • General Studies (6%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Mercer Mississippi State
Graduation Rate 60% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $47,500
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,250
Median Loan Payment $258 $240

Diversity

Mercer Mississippi State
% Men 33% 49%
% Women 67% 51%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 72%
% Black 31% 20%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Mercer Mississippi State
% In-State 86% 59%
% Out-of-State 13% 40%

Campus

Mercer Mississippi State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mississippi State University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 8,889 students)

Mercer vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Mississippi State?

  • Mercer University is 326.1% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $9,248.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 55.8% higher at Mercer than Mississippi State University ($39,408.00 vs. $25,294.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Mercer ($15,364 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 28.1% lower than costs at Mercer University ($10,964 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Mississippi State University (100% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 136.7% larger than aid received Mississippi State University ($33,740 vs. $14,252)

Mercer vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 77 points higher than at Mississippi State (1140)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mississippi State (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
  • Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than Mercer (74.7%)

Mercer vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercer or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and Mercer.

  • The graduation rate at Mercer is the same as at Mississippi State University (60% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Mississippi State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $47,500)
  • Mississippi State University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
  • Mississippi State graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
  • More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)

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