Mercer University
Mercer University is a private research university in Macon, Georgia, serving roughly 4,500 students. Admission is moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of about 68.89% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $58,354 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $42,312
- 2024 Average Net Price: $23,847 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 68.89% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,500 89.2% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 69.62%
- Average SAT Score: 1271
Mercer University: what the data shows
Common questions about Mercer University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Mercer University?
Mercer University is located in Macon, GA (ZIP 31207).
NCES locale classification: Suburb.
Is Mercer University public or private?
Mercer University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Mercer University cost?
Published tuition: $42,312.
Average net price after aid: $23,847.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $19,817 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $21,484 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $22,533 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $25,184 |
| $110,001+ | $26,770 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $169,248.
How hard is it to get into Mercer University?
Admission rate: 68.89%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1271 and midpoint ACT 30.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Mercer University?
Total enrollment: 4,500 students.
About 89% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Mercer University?
150%-time completion rate: 69.62%.
First-year retention: 82.2%.
What do graduates of Mercer University earn?
Median earnings: $50,231 six years after entry; $58,354 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,199.
35.43% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Mercer University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (2,689 completions)
- CIP 520201 (250 completions)
- Elementary Education & Teaching (171 completions)
- Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research (164 completions)
- CIP 512001 (109 completions)
- Law (JD) (104 completions)
- CIP 511201 (102 completions)
- CIP 140101 (101 completions)
- General Psychology (85 completions)
- Health/Medical Preparatory Programs (73 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Mercer University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 68.89%; completion rate 69.62%; median earnings $58,354 at 10 years; net price $23,847. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$42,312
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Mercer University was $42,312.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$23,847
2024 Value
In 2024 Mercer University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $23,847.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$95,388 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$23,847 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$169,248 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Mercer University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.43% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
62.45% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Mercer University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Mercer University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $33,120 | $33,120 | $19,472 |
| 2014 | $33,780 | $33,780 | $20,347 |
| 2015 | $34,450 | $34,450 | $20,423 |
| 2016 | $35,130 | $35,130 | $20,704 |
| 2017 | $36,000 | $36,000 | $20,812 |
| 2018 | $36,894 | $36,894 | $20,828 |
| 2019 | $37,808 | $37,808 | $21,464 |
| 2020 | $37,808 | $37,808 | $20,853 |
| 2021 | $38,746 | $38,746 | $20,884 |
| 2022 | $39,708 | $39,708 | $21,627 |
| 2023 | $40,890 | $40,890 | $22,350 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
68.89% Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1271
ACT Average: 30
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.3 - 3.5
Estimated Median GPA: 3.40
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
89.2% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Mercer University in 2024 is 4,500 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
82.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
61.17% 100% Completion Time
69.62% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 61.17% of students graduating from Mercer University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Mercer University.
Return on Investment
$24,199 Median Student Debt
$58,354 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
41.47% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
511.75% Return on Investment
4.1 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Mercer University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
CIP 52.0201: 250 completions
Elementary Education & Teaching: 171 completions
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, & Nursing Research: 164 completions
CIP 51.2001: 109 completions
Law (JD): 104 completions
CIP 51.1201: 102 completions
CIP 14.0101: 101 completions
General Psychology: 85 completions
Health/Medical Preparatory Programs: 73 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 2,689 completions
Most popular programs at Mercer University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Mercer University graduates.
About
Mercer University is a private non-profit institution located in Macon, GA, offering 115 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 4,500 students. The admission rate is 68.89%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1271. The institution maintains a 69.62% graduation rate. Approximately 35.43% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Macon, GA 31207
Region: Southeast
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 115 distinct degree programs, Mercer University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Mercer University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $42,312 and average net price is $23,847 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Mercer University?
The admission rate is 68.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Mercer University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Mercer University reports midpoint SAT about 1271 and midpoint ACT about 30.
What do graduates of Mercer University earn?
Median earnings are $50,231 six years after entry and $58,354 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Mercer University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 69.6% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Mercer University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,199.
How big is Mercer University?
Total enrollment is about 4,500 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Mercer University public or private?
Mercer University is a private nonprofit institution located in Macon, GA.
Is Mercer University an HBCU?
No. Mercer University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Mercer University a tribal college?
No. Mercer University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Mercer University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Mercer University does not meet that proxy (reported share 9.1%).
Is Mercer University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Mercer University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.