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ASU UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill Georgia ECU UNCG Georgia State NC State Emory KSU Berry College WCU| Mercer University | University of North Carolina at Wilmington | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | UNCW | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Wilmington, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,124 | 17,987 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #221 | #390 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | uncw.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | UNCW | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,590 | $4,443 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,590 | $20,111 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,528 | $12,605 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,197 | $18,606 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,402 | $6,516 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 54% |
Admission |
Mercer | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,058 | 17,370 | ||
| Admitted | 7,349 | 12,856 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 66.5% | 74% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.8% | 21% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 24/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1180/1350 | 1220/1360 | ||
| 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 | UNCW | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 17:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | UNCW | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 67% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $44,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $211 |
Diversity |
Mercer | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 32% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% |
Students |
Mercer | UNCW | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 77% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | UNCW | ||
| 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
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (17,987 students vs. 9,124 students)
Mercer vs. UNCW Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or UNCW?
- Mercer University is 813.6% more expensive to attend than UNCW for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $4,443.00)
- Out of state tuition is 101.8% higher at Mercer than University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($40,590.00 vs. $20,111.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Wilmington than Mercer ($18,606 vs. $24,197)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Wilmington are 15.3% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,605 vs. $14,528)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than University of North Carolina at Wilmington (100% vs. 54%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 397.3% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Wilmington ($32,402 vs. $6,516)
Mercer vs. UNCW Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or UNCW? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCW or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 55 points higher than at UNCW (1162)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at UNCW (25)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at UNCW (3.56)
- UNCW has a higher acceptance rate (74%) than Mercer (66.5%)
Mercer vs. UNCW Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or UNCW? 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 UNCW and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at UNCW is higher than Mercer University (67% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $12,600 more per year than UNCW graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $44,700)
- University of North Carolina at Wilmington students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
- UNCW graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
- More UNCW graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/