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Georgia Ole Miss Georgia State Auburn Emory KSU Berry College Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Texas Tech Ogelthorpe| Mercer University | Mississippi State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Mississippi State, MS | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 22,649 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #523 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | msstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $9,248 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $25,294 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $10,964 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $15,364 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $14,252 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 18,830 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 14,158 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 75.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 23.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.58 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 21/29 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1070/1280 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $240 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 49% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 51% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 20% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 59% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Mississippi State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Mississippi State University is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (22,649 students vs. 8,889 students)
Mercer vs. Mississippi State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Mississippi State?
- Mercer University is 326.1% more expensive to attend than Mississippi State for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $9,248.00)
- Out of state tuition is 55.8% higher at Mercer than Mississippi State University ($39,408.00 vs. $25,294.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mississippi State University than Mercer ($15,364 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mississippi State University are 28.1% lower than costs at Mercer University ($10,964 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Mississippi State University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 136.7% larger than aid received Mississippi State University ($33,740 vs. $14,252)
Mercer vs. Mississippi State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Mississippi State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mississippi State or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 77 points higher than at Mississippi State (1140)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Mississippi State (25)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Mississippi State (3.58)
- Mississippi State has a higher acceptance rate (75.2%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Mercer vs. Mississippi State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Mississippi State? 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 Mississippi State and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Mercer is the same as at Mississippi State University (60% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Mississippi State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $47,500)
- Mississippi State University students graduate with a $1,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,250 vs. $25,000)
- Mississippi State graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($240 vs. $258)
- More Mississippi State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/