Mercer vs. NC State

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

Mercer NC State
Location Macon, GA Raleigh, NC
Setting Small City Large City
Enrollment 8,889 36,700
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #123
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu ncsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer NC State
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $6,535
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $28,276
Room & Board $14,046 $12,748
Avg Net Price $22,087 $14,852
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $9,181
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 71%

Admission

Mercer NC State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 35,568
Admitted 5,643 16,779
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 47.2%
Enrolled % 15.9% 33.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.83
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 28/33
SAT Range 1190/1360 1280/1460
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 NC State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Engineering (22%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Agriculture (9%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Mercer NC State
Graduation Rate 60% 72%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $57,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,782
Median Loan Payment $258 $214

Diversity

Mercer NC State
% Men 33% 51%
% Women 67% 49%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 74%
% Black 31% 6%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

Mercer NC State
% In-State 86% 83%
% Out-of-State 13% 14%

Campus

Mercer NC State
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

  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 8,889 students)

Mercer vs. NC State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or NC State?

  • Mercer University is 503% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $6,535.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 39.4% higher at Mercer than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($39,408.00 vs. $28,276.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Mercer ($14,852 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 10.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,748 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (100% vs. 71%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 267.5% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($33,740 vs. $9,181)

Mercer vs. NC State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 47 points higher than at Mercer (1217)
  • Incoming NC State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Mercer (27)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at NC State (3.83)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than NC State (47.2%)

Mercer vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercer or NC 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 NC State and Mercer.

  • The graduation rate at NC State is higher than Mercer University (72% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $100 more per year than NC State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $57,200)
  • North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $4,218 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,782 vs. $25,000)
  • NC State graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($214 vs. $258)
  • More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 45%)

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