Mercer vs. Gonzaga

Deciding between Mercer University and Gonzaga University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mercer University
Gonzaga University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mercer Macon, GA
  • Gonzaga Spokane, WA
  • Setting
  • Mercer Small City
  • Gonzaga Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mercer 9,196
  • Gonzaga 7,470
  • Type
  • Mercer Private 4 Year
  • Gonzaga Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mercer #201
  • Gonzaga #180
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mercer -
  • Gonzaga Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Mercer Non-profit
  • Gonzaga Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mercer
  • Gonzaga

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Gonzaga $55,480
  • Room & Board
  • Mercer $15,156
  • Gonzaga $15,730
  • Average Net Price
  • Mercer $24,364
  • Gonzaga $40,117
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mercer $33,808
  • Gonzaga $33,390
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mercer 100%
  • Gonzaga 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mercer 9,813
  • Gonzaga 8,759
  • Admitted
  • Mercer 6,760
  • Gonzaga 7,155
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mercer 68.9%
  • Gonzaga 81.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Mercer 12.7%
  • Gonzaga 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mercer 1260
  • Gonzaga 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mercer 28
  • Gonzaga 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mercer 3.98
  • Gonzaga 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mercer A
  • Gonzaga A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mercer Difficult
  • Gonzaga Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mercer Low
  • Gonzaga
  • ACT Range
  • Mercer 25/31
  • Gonzaga 27/31
  • SAT Range
  • Mercer 1160/1350
  • Gonzaga 1190/1380
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mercer Required
  • Gonzaga Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mercer Jul 1, 2027
  • Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mercer 11:1
  • Gonzaga 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mercer
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Human Services (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Gonzaga
    • Business (29%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mercer 60%
  • Gonzaga 83%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mercer $57,300
  • Gonzaga $61,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mercer 45%
  • Gonzaga 86%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mercer $25,000
  • Gonzaga $26,394
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mercer $258
  • Gonzaga $272

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mercer 34%
  • Gonzaga 44%
  • % Women
  • Mercer 66%
  • Gonzaga 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mercer High
  • Gonzaga Low
  • HBCU
  • Mercer No
  • Gonzaga No
  • % White
  • Mercer 48%
  • Gonzaga 72%
  • % Asian
  • Mercer 6%
  • Gonzaga 5%
  • % Black
  • Mercer 31%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mercer 5%
  • Gonzaga 10%
  • % Native American
  • Mercer 0%
  • Gonzaga 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mercer 0%
  • Gonzaga 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mercer 3%
  • Gonzaga 6%
  • % International
  • Mercer 3%
  • Gonzaga 2%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mercer 5%
  • Gonzaga 3%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mercer 85%
  • Gonzaga 51%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mercer 14%
  • Gonzaga 48%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Mercer Yes
  • Gonzaga Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Mercer No
  • Gonzaga No
  • Meal Plan
  • Mercer Yes
  • Gonzaga Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Mercer Yes
  • Gonzaga No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Mercer No
  • Gonzaga No

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercer University in Macon, GA with Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercer University is larger than Gonzaga based on total student enrollment (9,196 students vs. 7,470 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mercer University is located in Macon, GA (Small City setting); Gonzaga University is in Spokane, WA (Midsize City setting).
  • Mercer University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Gonzaga University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercer University 11:1; Gonzaga University 12:1.

Mercer vs. Gonzaga Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Gonzaga? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Gonzaga ($24,364 vs. $40,117).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 3.6% lower than at Gonzaga University ($15,156 vs. $15,730).
  • Gonzaga University is 31.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mercer (about $13,168 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $42,312.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.1% higher at Gonzaga than at Mercer University (about $13,168 more per year; $55,480.00 vs. $42,312.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Mercer University as at Gonzaga University (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 1.3% larger than aid received by Gonzaga University students ($33,808 vs. $33,390).

Mercer vs. Gonzaga Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Gonzaga? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Gonzaga and Mercer.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Gonzaga University (1290) is 30 points higher than at Mercer (1260).
  • Incoming Gonzaga students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Mercer).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 1160/1350; Gonzaga University 1190/1380.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 25/31; Gonzaga University 27/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercer - Required; Gonzaga - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mercer Jul 1, 2027; Gonzaga Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.31 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Gonzaga (3.67).
  • Gonzaga has a higher acceptance rate (81.7%) than Mercer (68.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Mercer vs. 17.5% at Gonzaga.

Mercer vs. Gonzaga Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercer and Gonzaga? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Gonzaga University's six-year graduation rate (83%) is higher than Mercer University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Gonzaga University earn a median of about $4,300 more per year than Mercer graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,600 vs. $57,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercer University graduates have a $1,394 lower median loan debt than Gonzaga graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,394).
  • Among borrowers, Mercer graduates have an estimated $14 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Gonzaga graduates ($258 vs. $272).
  • More Gonzaga 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.