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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Auburn Ogelthorpe Elon Clemson| Mercer University | Salem College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | Salem College | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,124 | 519 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #221 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Moravian Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | salem.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Salem College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,590 | $31,720 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,590 | $31,720 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,528 | $13,056 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $24,197 | $19,000 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $32,402 | $28,860 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Mercer | Salem College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 11,058 | 1,951 | ||
| Admitted | 7,349 | 1,698 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 66.5% | 87% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.8% | 9.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 25/31 | 18/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1180/1350 | 1078/1315 | ||
| 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 | Salem College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 7:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Salem College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $35,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Salem College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 32% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 22% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 4% |
Students |
Mercer | Salem College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Salem College | ||
| 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 Salem College based on total student enrollment (9,124 students vs. 519 students)
Mercer vs. Salem College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Salem College?
- Mercer University is 28% more expensive to attend than Salem College for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $31,720.00)
- Out of state tuition is 28% higher at Mercer than Salem College ($40,590.00 vs. $31,720.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than Mercer ($19,000 vs. $24,197)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 11.3% lower than costs at Mercer University ($13,056 vs. $14,528)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University as Salem College (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 12.3% larger than aid received Salem College ($32,402 vs. $28,860)
Mercer vs. Salem College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Salem College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salem College or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 98 points higher than at Salem College (1119)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Salem College (25)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.68 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Salem College (3.3)
- Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than Mercer (66.5%)
Mercer vs. Salem College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Salem 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 Salem College and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than Salem College (60% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $22,300 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $35,000)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- Mercer graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More Salem College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/