Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Mercer University is a private national university located in Macon, Georgia. Mercer University is very inclusive in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Mercer University is in the top 50% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $52,841 10 years after enrolling, 6th in Georgia, and in the top 50% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Mercer University bachelor students earn 1% less than the national average. Mercer University is ranked 5th in Georgia.
Mercer University’s median net annual cost of $20,853 and average years to graduate of 4.4 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Mercer University sorted by number of graduates - Registered Nursing, Engineering, Biology, Education, Psychology, Accounting - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$20,853
Average years to graduate
4.4
Finance
Rank: #214
Economic score: 3.06
Business and Commerce
Rank: #55
Economic score: 3.36
Comms & Media Studies
Rank: #115
Economic score: 3.79
HR Management
Rank: #85
Economic score: 4.27
Marketing
Rank: #258
Economic score: 4.31
Criminal Justice
Rank: #192
Economic score: 4.66
Business Administration
Rank: #608
Economic score: 4.87
Liberal Arts and Sciences
Rank: #120
Economic score: 6.26
Social Sciences
Rank: #309
Economic score: 6.38
Romance Language & Linguistics
Rank: #155
Economic score: 24.92
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Mercer University - Education, Business and Commerce, Clinical / Counseling Psych, Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment , Public Health, Educ. Administration - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Accounting
Rank: #193
Economic score: 0.38
Registered Nursing
Rank: #279
Economic score: 0.52
Student Counseling
Rank: #255
Economic score: 1.33
Theological Studies
Rank: #44
Economic score: 1.53
Mental & Social Health Services
Rank: #178
Economic score: 2.38
Biology
Rank: #54
Economic score: 13.01
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 4.4 years. 66% of all students graduate within 8 years including part-time students. The graduation rate at Mercer University is 20% higher than the state average, and 1% below the average for all national universities in the country.
At Mercer University, Pell Grant recipients represent 32% of the measured graduating class, 3% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Mercer University graduates within 4.4 years.
Mercer University is in the top 50% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Mercer University’s economic mobility score of 20.69 is calculated by adjusting the 2.75 economic score of lower-income students by the 32% pell grant recipients within the student body. Mercer University’s EMS of 20.69 ranks in the top 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Top 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Mercer University pays $20,853 a year, $34,003 less than the $54,856 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $20,853
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Mercer University, 100% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $20,853 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 52% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,532. This is 2% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,473
Pell grants
$3,191
State grants
$6,164
Institutional grants
$25,404
Mercer University offers 17 online bachelor programs, 9 of which are held exclusively online. At the master’s level Mercer University offers 17 programs, 12 of which are held exclusively online. We use the IPEDS July '20 — July '21 Distance Education report to determine which programs are online. EarningsPlus data is provided when available.
Online programs
34
Hybrid programs
13
Percentage of programs online
24%
Mercer University's very inclusive admissions are indicated by their 75% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 7,201 applicants, of which 5,430 were admitted and 950 enrolled. Mercer University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
81%
83%
Female
66%
59%
First time
52%
59%
In-state
86%
68%
1st generation
28%
35%
White
47%
52%
Black
29%
14%
Hispanic
7%
15%
Asian
8%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
9%
12%