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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College Howard Morehouse Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Auburn Ogelthorpe| Mercer University | Spelman College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Atlanta, GA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,124 | 3,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #221 | #324 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | spelman.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,590 | $26,915 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,590 | $26,915 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,528 | $16,293 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,197 | $37,403 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,402 | $11,994 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 96% |
Admission |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,058 | 10,610 | ||
| Admitted | 7,349 | 3,617 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 66.5% | 34.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.8% | 20.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | High | ||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1180/1350 | 1060/1270 | ||
| 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, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 77% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $51,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 32% | 73% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Extremely Low | ||
| HBCU | No | Yes | ||
| % White | 48% | 0% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 96% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 0% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 0% |
Students |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 21% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 78% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Spelman | ||
| 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 Spelman based on total student enrollment (9,124 students vs. 3,633 students)
Mercer vs. Spelman Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Spelman?
- Mercer University is 50.8% more expensive to attend than Spelman for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $26,915.00)
- Out of state tuition is 50.8% higher at Mercer than Spelman College ($40,590.00 vs. $26,915.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Spelman ($24,197 vs. $37,403)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 12.1% lower than costs at Spelman College ($14,528 vs. $16,293)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Spelman College (100% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 170.2% larger than aid received Spelman College ($32,402 vs. $11,994)
Mercer vs. Spelman Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Spelman? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Spelman or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 202 points higher than at Spelman (1015)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Spelman (22)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Spelman (3.75)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (66.5%) than Spelman (34.1%)
Mercer vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Spelman? 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 Spelman and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Spelman is higher than Mercer University (77% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $6,000 more per year than Spelman graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $51,300)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Spelman graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- Mercer graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Spelman graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More Spelman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/