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Georgia Seattle U Georgia State UW-Seattle Emory KSU Berry College PLU Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Auburn| Mercer University | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | SPU | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 3,118 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #270 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $36,504 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $36,504 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $14,409 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $26,549 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $25,359 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Mercer | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 3,895 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 3,533 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 90.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 15.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 20/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1080/1350 | ||
| 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 | Jul 11, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $264 |
Diversity |
Mercer | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 8% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Mercer | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | SPU | ||
| 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 SPU based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 3,118 students)
Mercer vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or SPU?
- Mercer University is 8% more expensive to attend than SPU for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8% higher at Mercer than Seattle Pacific University ($39,408.00 vs. $36,504.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than SPU ($22,087 vs. $26,549)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 2.6% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($14,046 vs. $14,409)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 33% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($33,740 vs. $25,359)
Mercer vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 72 points higher than at SPU (1145)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at SPU (26)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.45 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at SPU (3.53)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (90.7%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Mercer vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or SPU? 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 SPU and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Mercer University (74% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $6,900 more per year than SPU graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $50,400)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $603 lower median federal student loan debt than SPU graduates. ($25,000 vs. $25,603)
- Mercer graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than SPU graduates. ($258 vs. $264)
- More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/