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UofSC Georgia NC State Auburn Virginia Tech Florida Tennessee CofC Ohio State Penn State Furman Alabama| Mercer University | Clemson University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Clemson, SC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 28,466 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #133 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | clemson.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $14,118 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $38,062 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $12,350 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $24,577 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $10,430 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 79% |
Admission |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 52,819 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 22,704 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 43% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 20.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 28/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1220/1410 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 80% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $57,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $222 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 46% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Clemson | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Clemson University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (28,466 students vs. 8,889 students)
Mercer vs. Clemson Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Clemson?
- Mercer University is 179.1% more expensive to attend than Clemson for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $14,118.00)
- Out of state tuition is 3.5% higher at Mercer than Clemson University ($39,408.00 vs. $38,062.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Clemson ($22,087 vs. $24,577)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Clemson University are 13.7% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,350 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Clemson University (100% vs. 79%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 223.5% larger than aid received Clemson University ($33,740 vs. $10,430)
Mercer vs. Clemson Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Clemson? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Clemson or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Clemson University (1275) is 58 points higher than at Mercer (1217)
- Incoming Clemson students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Mercer (27)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Clemson (3.75)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Clemson (43%)
Mercer vs. Clemson Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Clemson? 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 Clemson and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Clemson is higher than Mercer University (80% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $200 more per year than Clemson graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $57,100)
- Clemson University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
- Clemson graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
- More Clemson graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/