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Clemson UNC Chapel Hill Virginia Tech UNC Charlotte UofSC Georgia Penn State ASU ECU Ohio State Purdue Maryland| Mercer University | North Carolina State University at Raleigh | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | NC State | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Raleigh, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 36,700 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #123 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | ncsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | NC State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $6,535 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $28,276 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $12,748 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $14,852 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $9,181 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 71% |
Admission |
Mercer | NC State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 35,568 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 16,779 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 47.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 33.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.83 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 28/33 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1280/1460 | ||
| 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 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | NC State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | NC State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 72% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $57,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 76% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,782 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $214 |
Diversity |
Mercer | NC State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 51% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 49% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 74% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
Mercer | NC State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 14% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | NC State | ||
| 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
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (36,700 students vs. 8,889 students)
Mercer vs. NC State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or NC State?
- Mercer University is 503% more expensive to attend than NC State for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $6,535.00)
- Out of state tuition is 39.4% higher at Mercer than North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($39,408.00 vs. $28,276.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at North Carolina State University at Raleigh than Mercer ($14,852 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Carolina State University at Raleigh are 10.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,748 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than North Carolina State University at Raleigh (100% vs. 71%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 267.5% larger than aid received North Carolina State University at Raleigh ($33,740 vs. $9,181)
Mercer vs. NC State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or NC State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between NC State or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at North Carolina State University at Raleigh (1264) is 47 points higher than at Mercer (1217)
- Incoming NC State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Mercer (27)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at NC State (3.83)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than NC State (47.2%)
Mercer vs. NC State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or NC 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 NC State and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at NC State is higher than Mercer University (72% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $100 more per year than NC State graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $57,200)
- North Carolina State University at Raleigh students graduate with a $4,218 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,782 vs. $25,000)
- NC State graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($214 vs. $258)
- More NC State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/