Georgia State vs. Mercer

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

Georgia State Mercer
Location Atlanta, GA Macon, GA
Setting Large City Small City
Enrollment 36,516 8,889
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #762 #236
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gsu.edu mercer.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Georgia State Mercer
Tuition (In State) $7,158 $39,408
Tuition (Out of State) $22,389 $39,408
Room & Board $13,816 $14,046
Avg Net Price $17,589 $22,087
Avg Grant Aid $11,563 $33,740
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

Georgia State Mercer
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 26,050 7,556
Admitted 17,396 5,643
Acceptance Rate 66.8% 74.7%
Enrolled % 31.5% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.54 3.98
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/26 26/31
SAT Range 1020/1250 1190/1360
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Apr 1, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

Georgia State Mercer
Student to Faculty Ratio 26:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Education (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Georgia State Mercer
Graduation Rate 47% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $46,200 $57,300
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,699 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $245 $258

Diversity

Georgia State Mercer
% Men 39% 33%
% Women 61% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 26% 48%
% Black 42% 31%
% Hispanic 10% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 5%

Students

Georgia State Mercer
% In-State 82% 86%
% Out-of-State 10% 13%

Campus

Georgia 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

  • Georgia State University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (36,516 students vs. 8,889 students)

Georgia State vs. Mercer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia State or Mercer?

  • Mercer University is 450.5% more expensive to attend than Georgia State for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $7,158.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 76% higher at Mercer than Georgia State University ($39,408.00 vs. $22,389.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Georgia State University than Mercer ($17,589 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Georgia State University are 1.7% lower than costs at Mercer University ($13,816 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Georgia State University (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 191.8% larger than aid received Georgia State University ($33,740 vs. $11,563)

Georgia State vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 161 points higher than at Georgia State (1056)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Georgia State (23)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Georgia State (3.54)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Georgia State (66.8%)

Georgia State vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Georgia 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 Georgia State.

  • The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than Georgia State University (60% vs. 47%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $11,100 more per year than Georgia State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $46,200)
  • Georgia State University students graduate with a $1,301 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,699 vs. $25,000)
  • Georgia State graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($245 vs. $258)
  • More Mercer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia State students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 45%)

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