Mercer vs. AU

Deciding between Mercer University and Anderson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mercer University
Anderson University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mercer Macon, GA
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • Mercer Small City
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mercer 9,196
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • Mercer Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mercer #201
  • AU #662
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mercer -
  • AU Baptist
  • Status
  • Mercer Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mercer
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & Board
  • Mercer $15,156
  • AU $12,720
  • Average Net Price
  • Mercer $24,364
  • AU $24,434
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mercer $33,808
  • AU $25,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mercer 100%
  • AU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mercer 9,813
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • Mercer 6,760
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mercer 68.9%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Mercer 12.7%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mercer 1260
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mercer 28
  • AU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mercer 3.98
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mercer A
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mercer Difficult
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mercer Low
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Mercer 25/31
  • AU 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Mercer 1160/1350
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mercer Required
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mercer Jul 1, 2027
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mercer 11:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mercer
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Human Services (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mercer 60%
  • AU 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mercer $57,300
  • AU $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mercer 45%
  • AU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mercer $25,000
  • AU $26,862
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mercer $258
  • AU $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mercer 34%
  • AU 42%
  • % Women
  • Mercer 66%
  • AU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mercer High
  • AU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Mercer No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • Mercer 48%
  • AU 83%
  • % Asian
  • Mercer 6%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • Mercer 31%
  • AU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mercer 5%
  • AU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Mercer 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mercer 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mercer 3%
  • AU 2%
  • % International
  • Mercer 3%
  • AU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mercer 5%
  • AU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mercer 85%
  • AU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mercer 14%
  • AU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Mercer Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Mercer No
  • AU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Mercer Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Mercer Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Mercer No
  • AU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercer University in Macon, GA with Anderson University in Anderson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercer University is larger than AU based on total student enrollment (9,196 students vs. 4,710 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mercer University is located in Macon, GA (Small City setting); Anderson University is in Anderson, SC (Small City setting).
  • Mercer University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercer University 11:1; Anderson University 13:1.

Mercer vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or AU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than AU ($24,364 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 16.1% lower than at Mercer University ($12,720 vs. $15,156).
  • Mercer University is 21% more expensive for in-state tuition than AU (about $7,342 more per year; $42,312.00 vs. $34,970.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21% higher at Mercer than at Anderson University (about $7,342 more per year; $42,312.00 vs. $34,970.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercer University than at Anderson University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 30.2% larger than aid received by Anderson University students ($33,808 vs. $25,969).

Mercer vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or AU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AU and Mercer.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mercer University (1260) is 70 points higher than at AU (1190).
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at AU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 1160/1350; Anderson University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 25/31; Anderson University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercer - Required; AU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mercer Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at AU (3.72).
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (68.9%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Mercer vs. 32.5% at AU.

Mercer vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercer and AU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Mercer University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn a median of about $19,800 more per year than AU graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,300 vs. $37,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercer University graduates have a $1,862 lower median loan debt than AU graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,862).
  • Among borrowers, Mercer graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than AU graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.