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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Auburn Liberty University Ogelthorpe Elon| Mercer University | Messiah College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | Messiah College | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Grantham, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 3,231 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #358 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Interdenominational | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | messiah.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Messiah College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $38,550 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $38,550 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $11,560 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $24,120 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $27,519 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Mercer | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 2,438 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 1,936 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 79.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 30.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.8 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 25/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1090/1340 | ||
| 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 | Messiah College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Messiah College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $48,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 85% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,989 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $268 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 37% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 63% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 83% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Mercer | Messiah College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 63% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 35% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Messiah College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Mercer University is larger than than Messiah College based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 3,231 students)
Mercer vs. Messiah College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Messiah College?
- Mercer University is 2.2% more expensive to attend than Messiah College for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $38,550.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.2% higher at Mercer than Messiah College ($39,408.00 vs. $38,550.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Messiah College ($22,087 vs. $24,120)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Messiah College are 21.5% lower than costs at Mercer University ($11,560 vs. $14,046)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University as Messiah College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 22.6% larger than aid received Messiah College ($33,740 vs. $27,519)
Mercer vs. Messiah College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Messiah College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Messiah College or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 88 points higher than at Messiah College (1129)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Messiah College (25)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Messiah College (3.8)
- Messiah College has a higher acceptance rate (79.4%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Mercer vs. Messiah College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Messiah College? 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 Messiah College and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Messiah College is higher than Mercer University (74% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $8,700 more per year than Messiah College graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $48,600)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $989 lower median federal student loan debt than Messiah College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,989)
- Mercer graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Messiah College graduates. ($258 vs. $268)
- More Messiah College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/