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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College Georgia Tech GS Georgia College Auburn Ogelthorpe Elon Clemson| Mercer University | Shorter University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | Shorter | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Rome, GA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 1,515 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #872 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Baptist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | shorter.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Shorter | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $22,380 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $22,380 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $9,400 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $13,490 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $20,057 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Mercer | Shorter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 871 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 849 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 97.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 31.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.25 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 17/25 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 960/1290 | ||
| 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 | Shorter | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Shorter | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $49,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 38% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $28,418 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $293 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Shorter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 44% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 56% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 62% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 24% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 1% |
Students |
Mercer | Shorter | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 84% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 15% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Shorter | ||
| 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 Shorter based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 1,515 students)
Mercer vs. Shorter Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Shorter?
- Mercer University is 76.1% more expensive to attend than Shorter for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $22,380.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.1% higher at Mercer than Shorter University ($39,408.00 vs. $22,380.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Shorter University than Mercer ($13,490 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shorter University are 49.4% lower than costs at Mercer University ($9,400 vs. $14,046)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University as Shorter University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 68.2% larger than aid received Shorter University ($33,740 vs. $20,057)
Mercer vs. Shorter Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Shorter? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Shorter or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 248 points higher than at Shorter (969)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Shorter (21)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.73 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Shorter (3.25)
- Shorter has a higher acceptance rate (97.5%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Mercer vs. Shorter Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Shorter? 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 Shorter and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than Shorter University (60% vs. 47%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $8,000 more per year than Shorter graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $49,300)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $3,418 lower median federal student loan debt than Shorter graduates. ($25,000 vs. $28,418)
- Mercer graduates are paying $35 less per month on federal student loans than Shorter graduates. ($258 vs. $293)
- More Mercer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Shorter students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 38%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/