Mercer vs. Belmont

Deciding between Mercer University and Belmont 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
Belmont University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mercer Macon, GA
  • Belmont Nashville, TN
  • Setting
  • Mercer Small City
  • Belmont Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mercer 9,196
  • Belmont 8,803
  • Type
  • Mercer Private 4 Year
  • Belmont Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mercer #201
  • Belmont #300
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mercer -
  • Belmont Interdenominational
  • Status
  • Mercer Non-profit
  • Belmont Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mercer
  • Belmont

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Belmont $42,540
  • Room & Board
  • Mercer $15,156
  • Belmont $15,010
  • Average Net Price
  • Mercer $24,364
  • Belmont $38,578
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mercer $33,808
  • Belmont $23,992
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mercer 100%
  • Belmont 93%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mercer 9,813
  • Belmont 9,165
  • Admitted
  • Mercer 6,760
  • Belmont 8,732
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mercer 68.9%
  • Belmont 95.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Mercer 12.7%
  • Belmont 17.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mercer 1260
  • Belmont 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mercer 28
  • Belmont 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mercer 3.98
  • Belmont 3.83
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mercer A
  • Belmont A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mercer Difficult
  • Belmont Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mercer Low
  • Belmont
  • ACT Range
  • Mercer 25/31
  • Belmont 24/30
  • SAT Range
  • Mercer 1160/1350
  • Belmont 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mercer Required
  • Belmont Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mercer Jul 1, 2027
  • Belmont Jul 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mercer 11:1
  • Belmont 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mercer
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Human Services (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Belmont
    • Visual and Performing Arts (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (5%)
    • Communications Technology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mercer 60%
  • Belmont 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mercer $57,300
  • Belmont $49,100
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mercer 45%
  • Belmont 76%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mercer $25,000
  • Belmont $21,780
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mercer $258
  • Belmont $225

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mercer 34%
  • Belmont 34%
  • % Women
  • Mercer 66%
  • Belmont 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mercer High
  • Belmont Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Mercer No
  • Belmont No
  • % White
  • Mercer 48%
  • Belmont 80%
  • % Asian
  • Mercer 6%
  • Belmont 2%
  • % Black
  • Mercer 31%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mercer 5%
  • Belmont 5%
  • % Native American
  • Mercer 0%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mercer 0%
  • Belmont 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mercer 3%
  • Belmont 4%
  • % International
  • Mercer 3%
  • Belmont 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mercer 5%
  • Belmont 4%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mercer 85%
  • Belmont 35%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mercer 14%
  • Belmont 64%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Mercer University is larger than Belmont based on total student enrollment (9,196 students vs. 8,803 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mercer University is located in Macon, GA (Small City setting); Belmont University is in Nashville, TN (Large City setting).
  • Mercer University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Belmont University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercer University 11:1; Belmont University 12:1.

Mercer vs. Belmont Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Belmont? 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 Belmont ($24,364 vs. $38,578).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Belmont University are 1% lower than at Mercer University ($15,010 vs. $15,156).
  • Belmont University is 0.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercer (about $228 more per year; $42,540.00 vs. $42,312.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.5% higher at Belmont than at Mercer University (about $228 more per year; $42,540.00 vs. $42,312.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercer University than at Belmont University (100% vs. 93%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 40.9% larger than aid received by Belmont University students ($33,808 vs. $23,992).

Mercer vs. Belmont Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Belmont? 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 Belmont and Mercer.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mercer University (1260) is the same as at Belmont (1260).
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at Belmont).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 1160/1350; Belmont University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 25/31; Belmont University 24/30.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercer - Required; Belmont - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mercer Jul 1, 2027; Belmont Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Belmont (3.83).
  • Belmont has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Mercer (68.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Mercer vs. 17.7% at Belmont.

Mercer vs. Belmont Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercer and Belmont? 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).

  • Belmont University's six-year graduation rate (68%) is higher than Mercer University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than Belmont graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,300 vs. $49,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Belmont University graduates have a $3,220 lower median loan debt than Mercer graduates ($21,780 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, Belmont graduates have an estimated $33 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercer graduates ($225 vs. $258).
  • More Belmont graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (76% 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.