Georgia College vs. Mercer

Should I go to Georgia College & State University or Mercer University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Georgia College 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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Georgia College & State University vs. Mercer University comparison
Georgia College & State University Mercer University College 3 College 4
Georgia College & State University Mercer University
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Overview

Georgia College Mercer
Location Milledgeville, GA Macon, GA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 6,315 8,889
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #644 #236
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gcsu.edu mercer.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Georgia College Mercer
Tuition (In State) $7,508 $39,408
Tuition (Out of State) $26,688 $39,408
Room & Board $10,948 $14,046
Avg Net Price $20,301 $22,087
Avg Grant Aid $8,610 $33,740
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 100%

Admission

Georgia College Mercer
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,414 7,556
Admitted 3,529 5,643
Acceptance Rate 80% 74.7%
Enrolled % 38.7% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.53 3.98
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Very High
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/26 26/31
SAT Range 1060/1230 1190/1360
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Georgia College Mercer
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Georgia College Mercer
Graduation Rate 55% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,300 $57,300
Making Student Loan Payments 69% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $227 $258

Diversity

Georgia College Mercer
% Men 34% 33%
% Women 66% 67%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High
HBCU No No
% White 85% 48%
% Black 5% 31%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 5%

Students

Georgia College Mercer
% In-State 99% 86%
% Out-of-State 1% 13%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Mercer University is larger than than Georgia College based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 6,315 students)

Georgia College vs. Mercer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia College or Mercer?

  • Mercer University is 424.9% more expensive to attend than Georgia College for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $7,508.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 47.7% higher at Mercer than Georgia College & State University ($39,408.00 vs. $26,688.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia College & State University than Mercer ($20,301 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia College & State University are 28.3% lower than costs at Mercer University ($10,948 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Georgia College & State University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 291.9% larger than aid received Georgia College & State University ($33,740 vs. $8,610)

Georgia College vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 74 points higher than at Georgia College (1143)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Georgia College (25)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Georgia College (3.53)
  • Georgia College has a higher acceptance rate (80%) than Mercer (74.7%)

Georgia College vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Georgia College 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 Georgia College.

  • The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than Georgia College & State University (60% vs. 55%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $14,000 more per year than Georgia College graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $43,300)
  • Georgia College & State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($22,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Georgia College graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($227 vs. $258)
  • More Georgia College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 45%)

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