Mercer University

Macon, GA · SoutheastQuad's selectivitySelective

Known forGenerous aidTest-optional heavy

Admissions · Fall 2024

7 in 10 applicants admitted

Mercer admits about 7 in 10 applicants (69%). That puts it in the "Selective" tier, more selective than 66% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

69%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivitySelective

Applied

9,813

Admitted

6,760

Yield

13%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1160–1350

10001600

ACT middle 50%

25–31

1836

Applications +124% since fall 2014 · admit rate 67% → 69%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 4,500 undergrads, where 35% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

4.5K

undergrads · larger than 76% of colleges

Diversity index

0.71

Pell Grant

35%

about the median

First generation

28%

below the median

Midsize cityNCAA D-I FCS · Southern ConferenceROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research

More diverse · index 0.66 → 0.71 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (14% of graduates). 11 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 68% of colleges. 98% of faculty are full-time. Spends $14,074 a year on instruction per student.

11 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 68% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $25,708 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $1.4K more than the national median. The 100% who received grants paid $24,364 on average; the other 0% paid the full sticker price of $59,482.

57%

$25.7K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $1.4K above the national median

Full price: $59,482 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid: 25% · avg $32K; of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)

Aid generosity

Very generous

grants cover 57% of full price

Federal loans

62%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −7% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $58,354 ten years after enrolling, more than at 64% of colleges; 67% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.8 years of that salary.

67%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$58.4K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.2K

≈ $257/month for 10 years

Retention

82%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 63% → 70% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price fell 6% after inflation, and what the average first-year paid moved with it. Applications rose 124% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 67% to 69%.

Cost
Falling
−7% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+124%
Selectivity
Steady
admit rate 67% → 69%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.66 → 0.71

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Adelphi University

66% admit · SAT 1230 · 5.3K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Seton Hall University

73% admit · SAT 1305 · 6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private

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Park University

4.6K undergrads

Similar sizeAlso private

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University of the Pacific

71% admit · SAT 1332 · 3.2K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar sizeAlso private

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

IPEDS unit ID 140447 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything