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Georgia Georgia State Butler Emory Creighton University KSU Berry College ISU Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Auburn| Mercer University | Drake University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | Drake | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Des Moines, IA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 4,685 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #149 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | drake.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Drake | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $47,564 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $47,564 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $11,570 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $30,333 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $31,274 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Mercer | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 8,621 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 5,796 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 67.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 12.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.7 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1110/1340 | ||
| 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 | Drake | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Drake | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 75% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $68,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 84% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $268 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 7% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 0% |
Students |
Mercer | Drake | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 35% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 63% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Drake | ||
| 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
- Mercer University is larger than than Drake based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 4,685 students)
Mercer vs. Drake Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Drake?
- Drake University is 20.7% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($47,564.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- Out of state tuition is 20.7% higher at Drake than Mercer University ($47,564.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Drake ($22,087 vs. $30,333)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Drake University are 21.4% lower than costs at Mercer University ($11,570 vs. $14,046)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University as Drake University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 7.9% larger than aid received Drake University ($33,740 vs. $31,274)
Mercer vs. Drake Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Drake? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Drake or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Drake University (1224) is 7 points higher than at Mercer (1217)
- Incoming Mercer students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Drake (27)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Drake (3.7)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Drake (67.2%)
Mercer vs. Drake Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Drake? 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 Drake and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Drake is higher than Mercer University (75% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Drake University earn on average $11,200 more per year than Mercer graduates after ten years. ($68,500 vs. $57,300)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Drake graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,000)
- Mercer graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Drake graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
- More Drake graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (84% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/