Mercer vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina

Should I go to Mercer University or Citadel Military College of South Carolina? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercer or Citadel Military College of South Carolina 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. Citadel Military College of South Carolina comparison
Mercer University Citadel Military College of South Carolina College 3 College 4
Mercer University Citadel Military College of South Carolina
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Overview

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Location Macon, GA Charleston, SC
Setting Small City Midsize City
Enrollment 8,889 3,721
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #298
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu citadel.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $8,356
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $30,857
Room & Board $14,046 $8,480
Avg Net Price $22,087 $21,846
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $11,428
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 76%

Admission

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 2,253
Admitted 5,643 2,221
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 98.6%
Enrolled % 15.9% 30.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.8
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Very High Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/31 23/27
SAT Range 1190/1360 1090/1270
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

Academics

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (30%)
  • Engineering (16%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Education (7%)

Outcomes

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Graduation Rate 60% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $58,200
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 70%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $23,812
Median Loan Payment $258 $246

Diversity

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
% Men 33% 76%
% Women 67% 24%
Racial Diversity Very High Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 77%
% Black 31% 9%
% Hispanic 5% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 0%

Students

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
% In-State 86% 51%
% Out-of-State 13% 46%

Campus

Mercer Citadel Military College of South Carolina
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mercer University is larger than than Citadel Military College of South Carolina based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 3,721 students)

Mercer vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Citadel Military College of South Carolina?

  • Mercer University is 371.6% more expensive to attend than Citadel Military College of South Carolina for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $8,356.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 27.7% higher at Mercer than Citadel Military College of South Carolina ($39,408.00 vs. $30,857.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Citadel Military College of South Carolina than Mercer ($21,846 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Citadel Military College of South Carolina are 65.6% lower than costs at Mercer University ($8,480 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Citadel Military College of South Carolina (100% vs. 76%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 195.2% larger than aid received Citadel Military College of South Carolina ($33,740 vs. $11,428)

Mercer vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 144 points higher than at Citadel Military College of South Carolina (1073)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Citadel Military College of South Carolina (23)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Citadel Military College of South Carolina (3.8)
  • Citadel Military College of South Carolina has a higher acceptance rate (98.6%) than Mercer (74.7%)

Mercer vs. Citadel Military College of South Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercer or Citadel Military College of South Carolina? 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 Citadel Military College of South Carolina and Mercer.

  • The graduation rate at Citadel Military College of South Carolina is higher than Mercer University (70% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Citadel Military College of South Carolina earn on average $900 more per year than Mercer graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $57,300)
  • Citadel Military College of South Carolina students graduate with a $1,188 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,812 vs. $25,000)
  • Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($246 vs. $258)
  • More Citadel Military College of South Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 45%)

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