Florida State vs. Mercer

Should I go to Florida State University or Mercer University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Florida State or Mercer is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Florida State University vs. Mercer University comparison
Florida State University Mercer University College 3 College 4
Florida State University Mercer University
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Overview

Florida State Mercer
Location Tallahassee, FL Macon, GA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 44,161 8,889
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #199 #236
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fsu.edu mercer.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Florida State Mercer
Tuition (In State) $4,022 $39,408
Tuition (Out of State) $16,540 $39,408
Room & Board $11,592 $14,046
Avg Net Price $14,003 $22,087
Avg Grant Aid $10,169 $33,740
% Receiving Grant Aid 89% 100%

Admission

Florida State Mercer
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 78,088 7,556
Admitted 19,552 5,643
Acceptance Rate 25% 74.7%
Enrolled % 30.9% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 3.98
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Very High
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 26/31 26/31
SAT Range 1210/1370 1190/1360
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Mar 1, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Florida State Mercer
Student to Faculty Ratio 17:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Social Sciences (19%)
  • Psychology (5%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Work and Family Studies (5%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Florida State Mercer
Graduation Rate 74% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,400 $57,300
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $20,750 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $214 $258

Diversity

Florida State Mercer
% Men 42% 33%
% Women 58% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 64% 48%
% Black 8% 31%
% Hispanic 19% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 5%

Students

Florida State Mercer
% In-State 85% 86%
% Out-of-State 14% 13%

Campus

Florida State Mercer
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Florida State University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (44,161 students vs. 8,889 students)

Florida State vs. Mercer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida State or Mercer?

  • Mercer University is 879.8% more expensive to attend than Florida State for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $4,022.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 138.3% higher at Mercer than Florida State University ($39,408.00 vs. $16,540.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Florida State University than Mercer ($14,003 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Florida State University are 21.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($11,592 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Florida State University (100% vs. 89%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 231.8% larger than aid received Florida State University ($33,740 vs. $10,169)

Florida State vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida State or Mercer? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercer or Florida State .

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 2 points higher than at Florida State (1215)
  • Incoming Florida State students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Mercer (27)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Florida State (3.7)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Florida State (25%)

Florida State vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Florida State or Mercer? 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 Mercer and Florida State.

  • The graduation rate at Florida State is higher than Mercer University (74% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $5,900 more per year than Florida State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $51,400)
  • Florida State University students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,750 vs. $25,000)
  • Florida State graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($214 vs. $258)
  • More Florida State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/