Mercer vs. ASU

Should I go to Mercer University or Appalachian State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercer or ASU 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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Mercer University vs. Appalachian State University comparison
Mercer University Appalachian State University College 3 College 4
Mercer University Appalachian State University
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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
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

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/