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UofSC Georgia Clemson Coastal Carolina Georgia State CSU Elon Emory KSU Berry College USC Beaufort Furman| Mercer University | College of Charleston | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | CofC | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Charleston, SC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 10,885 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #428 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | cofc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | CofC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $12,518 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $35,338 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $12,986 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $21,120 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $9,499 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Mercer | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 22,020 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 16,666 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 75.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 13.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.94 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 24/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1130/1300 | ||
| 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 | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | CofC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
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Outcomes |
Mercer | CofC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $46,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 60% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $222 |
Diversity |
Mercer | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 80% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Mercer | CofC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 44% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 54% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | CofC | ||
| 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
- College of Charleston is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (10,885 students vs. 8,889 students)
Mercer vs. CofC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or CofC?
- Mercer University is 214.8% more expensive to attend than CofC for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $12,518.00)
- Out of state tuition is 11.5% higher at Mercer than College of Charleston ($39,408.00 vs. $35,338.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Charleston than Mercer ($21,120 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Charleston are 8.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,986 vs. $14,046)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University as College of Charleston (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 255.2% larger than aid received College of Charleston ($33,740 vs. $9,499)
Mercer vs. CofC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or CofC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CofC or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 76 points higher than at CofC (1141)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at CofC (26)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at CofC (3.94)
- CofC has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Mercer vs. CofC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or CofC? 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 CofC and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at CofC is higher than Mercer University (63% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $11,100 more per year than CofC graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $46,200)
- College of Charleston students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($21,500 vs. $25,000)
- CofC graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($222 vs. $258)
- More CofC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/