Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UNCW ECU WCU Georgia University of North Carolina at Asheville NC State UNC Charlotte UNC Chapel Hill Georgia State JMU Tennessee Emory| Mercer University | Appalachian State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | ASU | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Boone, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 20,436 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #594 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | appstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | ASU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $4,242 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $20,246 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $11,582 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $13,084 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $7,443 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 47% |
Admission |
Mercer | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 22,255 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 18,489 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 83.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 21.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.96 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 21/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1100/1270 | ||
| 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 | Jul 1, 2025 | Feb 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Mercer | ASU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 65% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $41,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $211 |
Diversity |
Mercer | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 85% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
Mercer | ASU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | ASU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Appalachian State University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (20,436 students vs. 8,889 students)
Mercer vs. ASU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or ASU?
- Mercer University is 829% more expensive to attend than ASU for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $4,242.00)
- Out of state tuition is 94.6% higher at Mercer than Appalachian State University ($39,408.00 vs. $20,246.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Appalachian State University than Mercer ($13,084 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Appalachian State University are 21.3% lower than costs at Mercer University ($11,582 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Appalachian State University (100% vs. 47%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 353.3% larger than aid received Appalachian State University ($33,740 vs. $7,443)
Mercer vs. ASU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or ASU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ASU or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 60 points higher than at ASU (1157)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at ASU (26)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at ASU (3.96)
- ASU has a higher acceptance rate (83.1%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Mercer vs. ASU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or ASU? 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 ASU and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at ASU is higher than Mercer University (65% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $15,700 more per year than ASU graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $41,600)
- Appalachian State University students graduate with a $4,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,500 vs. $25,000)
- ASU graduates are paying $47 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($211 vs. $258)
- More ASU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/