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Overview |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,124 | 9,121 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #221 | #44 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | wfu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,590 | $63,608 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,590 | $63,608 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,528 | $17,848 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,197 | $27,790 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,402 | $55,090 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 34% |
Admission |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,058 | 17,479 | ||
| Admitted | 7,349 | 3,768 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 66.5% | 21.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.8% | 36.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 32/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1180/1350 | 1390/1510 | ||
| 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 | Jan 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 88% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $77,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 88% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $237 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 16% | ||
| % Women | 32% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 0% |
Students |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 15% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 76% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Wake Forest | ||
| 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 Wake Forest based on total student enrollment (9,124 students vs. 9,121 students)
Mercer vs. Wake Forest Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Wake Forest?
- Wake Forest University is 56.7% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($63,608.00 vs. $40,590.00)
- Out of state tuition is 56.7% higher at Wake Forest than Mercer University ($63,608.00 vs. $40,590.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Wake Forest ($24,197 vs. $27,790)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 22.9% lower than costs at Wake Forest University ($14,528 vs. $17,848)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Wake Forest University (100% vs. 34%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wake Forest University students is 70% larger than aid received Mercer University ($55,090 vs. $32,402)
Mercer vs. Wake Forest Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Wake Forest? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wake Forest or Mercer .
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (66.5%) than Wake Forest (21.6%)
Mercer vs. Wake Forest Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Wake Forest? 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 Wake Forest and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Wake Forest is higher than Mercer University (88% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Wake Forest University earn on average $19,900 more per year than Mercer graduates after ten years. ($77,200 vs. $57,300)
- Wake Forest University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,000 vs. $25,000)
- Wake Forest graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($237 vs. $258)
- More Wake Forest graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/