Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Georgia Furman Wofford College JMU Georgia State CofC Davidson Emory UofSC KSU Clemson University of Richmond| Mercer University | Elon University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | Elon | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Elon, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 7,123 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #116 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | elon.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Elon | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $41,734 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $41,734 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $13,886 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $41,527 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $13,880 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 68% |
Admission |
Mercer | Elon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 17,551 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 13,069 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 74.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 12.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.65 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1170/1360 | ||
| 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 10, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | Elon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Mercer | Elon | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 82% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $56,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 86% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $240 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Elon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 40% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 60% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Mercer | Elon | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 18% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 80% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Elon | ||
| 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 Elon based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 7,123 students)
Mercer vs. Elon Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Elon?
- Elon University is 5.9% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($41,734.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- Out of state tuition is 5.9% higher at Elon than Mercer University ($41,734.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Elon ($22,087 vs. $41,527)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elon University are 1.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($13,886 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Elon University (100% vs. 68%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 143.1% larger than aid received Elon University ($33,740 vs. $13,880)
Mercer vs. Elon Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Elon? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Elon or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 6 points higher than at Elon (1211)
- Incoming Mercer students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Elon (27)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Elon (3.65)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Elon (74.5%)
Mercer vs. Elon Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Elon? 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 Elon and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Elon is higher than Mercer University (82% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $1,100 more per year than Elon graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $56,200)
- Elon University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
- Elon graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
- More Elon graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/