Mercer University

https://www.mercer.edu

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$31,265

5.49% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$24,364

After Financial Aid

2022 Default Rate

0.0395%

on Student Loans

2024 Acceptance Rate

68.9%

9,813 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

9,196

80% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

69.6%

676 Graduates

About

Mercer University is a higher education institution located in Bibb County, GA. In 2024, the most popular Masters Degree concentrations at Mercer University were General Business Administration & Management (209 degrees awarded), Elementary Education & Teaching (98 degrees), and Physician Assistant (67 degrees).

In 2024, 2,689 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Mercer University. 68.9% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 31.1% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,189 degrees), 1.43 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (832 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Mercer University is $31,265, which is $−655 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at Mercer University was 0.0395%, corresponding to 1 out of the 2,529 total borrowers.

Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2024, the median undergraduate tuition at Mercer University is $31,265, which is $655 less than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $24,364.

In 2024, 94% of undergraduate students attending Mercer University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 62% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$31,265

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of tuition at Mercer University was $31,265. The cost of tuition at Mercer University is $−655 less than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($31,920).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Mercer University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$24,364

2024 Value

0.69%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Mercer University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $24,364. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Mercer University grew by 0.69%.

This chart compares the average net price of Mercer University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$14,528

Room and Board

$1,200

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Mercer University was of $14,528 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 3.43% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,200. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Mercer University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

94%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

62%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

94% of undergraduate students at Mercer University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 3.3% with respect to 2023, when 91% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Mercer University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

0.0395%

2022 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2022 the default rate for borrower's at Mercer University was 0.0395%, which represents 1 out of the 2529 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Mercer University received 9,813 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 11.3% annual growth. Out of those 9,813 applicants, 6,760 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 68.9% acceptance rate.

There were 9,196 students enrolled at Mercer University in 2024. 40% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Mercer University has an overall enrollment yield of 12.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

68.9%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

6,760

Accepted Out of 9,813

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Mercer University was 68.9% (6,760 admissions from 9,813 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 66.5%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants declined by 11.3%, while admissions declined by 8.01%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Mercer University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

40%

Submission Percentage (2024)

341

Scores Submitted (2024)

40% of enrolled first-time students at Mercer University in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Mercer University had a total enrollment of 9,196 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Mercer University is 7,355 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,841. This means that 80% of students enrolled at Mercer University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Mercer University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 39.9% White, 33.6% Black or African American, 8.05% Asian, 7.99% Hispanic or Latino, 3.16% Two or More Races, 0.141% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0544% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Mercer University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (24.5%), followed by Black or African American Female (22%) and White Male (19%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (27.7%), followed by Black or African American Female (21.4%) and White Male (16.7%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

80%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Mercer University in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 9,196 students. The full-time enrollment at Mercer University is 7,355 and the part-time enrollment is 1,841. This means that 80% of students enrolled at Mercer University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Mercer University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

82%

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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Mercer University was 82%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Mercer University had a retention rate approximately the same as its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Mercer University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,668 enrolled students
Black or African American
3,091 enrolled students
Asian
740 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Mercer University is 39.9% White, 33.6% Black or African American, 8.05% Asian, 7.99% Hispanic or Latino, 3.16% Two or More Races, 0.141% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0544% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 269 students (2.93%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 1,017 more women than men received degrees from Mercer University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Mercer University is white (1,189 degrees awarded). There were 1.43 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (832 degrees).

The most common Masters Degree concentration at Mercer University is General Business Administration & Management (209 degrees awarded), followed by Elementary Education & Teaching (98 degrees) and Physician Assistant (67 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Mercer University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Legal (113 degrees awarded), Theology (34 degrees), and Education (383 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Registered nurses

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Mercer University are Registered nurses (1,541,239 people), Elementary & middle school teachers (1,529,839 people), Secondary school teachers (494,698 people), Education administrators (272,976 people), and Special education teachers (207,237 people).

The most specialized majors at Mercer University in 2024 are Legal (113 degrees awarded), Theology (34 degrees), Education (383 degrees), Language & Linguistics (25 degrees), and Health (834 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Mercer University are Surgeons, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, Gaming services workers, Physicians, and Models, demonstrators, & product promoters

The most specialized majors at Mercer University are Legal (113 degrees awarded), Theology (34 degrees), Education (383 degrees), Language & Linguistics (25 degrees), and Health (834 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Mercer University are Elementary & secondary schools (2,922,476 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (1,713,744 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (380,444 people), Outpatient care centers (329,117 people), and Offices of physicians (228,843 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Mercer University.

Most Common (2024)

Registered Nursing
164 degrees awarded
General Engineering
101 degrees awarded
General Psychology
85 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Mercer University was Registered Nursing with 164 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Mercer University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

836

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

1,853

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 836 degrees were awarded to men at Mercer University, which is 0.451 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,853).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Mercer University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 107 degrees were awarded to men at Mercer University in General Business Administration & Management, which is 0.748 times less than the 143 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 161 degrees were awarded to men at Mercer University in Elementary Education & Teaching, which is 16.1 times more than the 10 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

67%

100% Completion Time

74%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 67% of students graduating from Mercer University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 74% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 74% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (77.4%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Mercer University is Female and Asian (77.4% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 2.84% of graduates (19 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
1,189 degrees awarded
Black or African American
832 degrees awarded
Asian
245 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Mercer University is white (1,189 degrees awarded). There were 1.43 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (832 degrees).

2.16% of degree recipients (58 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
809 degrees awarded
White Female
805 degrees awarded
White Female
799 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Mercer University is white female (809 degrees awarded). There were 1 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (805 degrees).

Operations

Mercer University has an endowment valued at nearly $482M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 65.8M (13.7%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2024, Mercer University had a total salary expenditure of 346M. Mercer University employs 148 Assistant professors, 123 Associate professors and 119 Professors. Most academics at Mercer University are Female Assistant professor (89), Male Professor (72), and Female Associate professor (65).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Mercer University are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 220 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 152 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 139 employees.

Endowment

$482M

2024 Endowment

0.409%

growth from 2023

Mercer University has an endowment valued at about $482M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Mercer University grew 0.409% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $230M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Mercer University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Higher Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$153M

2024 Salaries

5.73%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Mercer University paid a median of $153M in salaries, which represents 44.2% of their overall expenditure ($346M) and a 5.73% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 1.19% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 2.15% growth between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$39.4M

Instructional Salaries

428

Number of Employees

In 2024, Mercer University paid a total of $39.4M to 428 employees working as instructors, which represents 25.8% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Mercer University were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 220 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 152 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 139 employees.

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