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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College Georgia Tech GS George Fox University Georgia College Auburn Ogelthorpe Elon| Mercer University | Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Forest Grove, OR | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 3,559 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #354 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | pacificu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $50,884 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $50,884 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $14,408 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $33,472 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $33,340 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 2,759 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 2,546 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 92.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 15.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.73 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 20/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1010/1350 | ||
| 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 25, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 61% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $46,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $26,156 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $270 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 32% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 68% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 52% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 13% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 12% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 38% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 61% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Pacific | ||
| 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 Pacific based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 3,559 students)
Mercer vs. Pacific Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Pacific?
- Pacific University is 29.1% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($50,884.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- Out of state tuition is 29.1% higher at Pacific than Mercer University ($50,884.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Pacific ($22,087 vs. $33,472)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 2.6% lower than costs at Pacific University ($14,046 vs. $14,408)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 1.2% larger than aid received Pacific University ($33,740 vs. $33,340)
Mercer vs. Pacific Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Pacific? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Pacific or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 127 points higher than at Pacific (1090)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Pacific (24)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Pacific (3.73)
- Pacific has a higher acceptance rate (92.3%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Mercer vs. Pacific Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Pacific? 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 Pacific and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Pacific is higher than Mercer University (61% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $10,500 more per year than Pacific graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $46,800)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $1,156 lower median federal student loan debt than Pacific graduates. ($25,000 vs. $26,156)
- Mercer graduates are paying $12 less per month on federal student loans than Pacific graduates. ($258 vs. $270)
- More Pacific graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/