Mercer vs. Spelman

Deciding between Mercer University and Spelman College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Mercer University
Spelman College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Mercer Macon, GA
  • Spelman Atlanta, GA
  • Setting
  • Mercer Small City
  • Spelman Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Mercer 9,196
  • Spelman 3,417
  • Type
  • Mercer Private 4 Year
  • Spelman Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Mercer #201
  • Spelman #271
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Mercer -
  • Spelman -
  • Status
  • Mercer Non-profit
  • Spelman Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Mercer
  • Spelman

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Spelman $31,556
  • Room & Board
  • Mercer $15,156
  • Spelman $18,091
  • Average Net Price
  • Mercer $24,364
  • Spelman $40,354
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Mercer $33,808
  • Spelman $10,614
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Mercer 100%
  • Spelman 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Mercer 9,813
  • Spelman 12,023
  • Admitted
  • Mercer 6,760
  • Spelman 2,990
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Mercer 68.9%
  • Spelman 24.9%
  • Enrolled
  • Mercer 12.7%
  • Spelman 23.6%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Mercer 1260
  • Spelman 1210
  • Typical ACT score
  • Mercer 28
  • Spelman 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Mercer 3.98
  • Spelman 3.75
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Mercer A
  • Spelman A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Mercer Difficult
  • Spelman Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Mercer Low
  • Spelman High
  • ACT Range
  • Mercer 25/31
  • Spelman 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Mercer 1160/1350
  • Spelman 1108/1320
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Mercer Required
  • Spelman Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Mercer Jul 1, 2027
  • Spelman Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Mercer 11:1
  • Spelman 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Mercer
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Human Services (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Spelman
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Psychology (20%)
    • Biology (14%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Mercer 60%
  • Spelman 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Mercer $57,300
  • Spelman $51,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Mercer 45%
  • Spelman 47%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Mercer $25,000
  • Spelman $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Mercer $258
  • Spelman $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Mercer 34%
  • Spelman 5%
  • % Women
  • Mercer 66%
  • Spelman 95%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Mercer High
  • Spelman Extremely Low
  • HBCU
  • Mercer No
  • Spelman Yes
  • % White
  • Mercer 48%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Asian
  • Mercer 6%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Black
  • Mercer 31%
  • Spelman 96%
  • % Hispanic
  • Mercer 5%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Native American
  • Mercer 0%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Mercer 0%
  • Spelman 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Mercer 3%
  • Spelman 2%
  • % International
  • Mercer 3%
  • Spelman 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Mercer 5%
  • Spelman 0%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Mercer 85%
  • Spelman 21%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Mercer 14%
  • Spelman 78%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Mercer Yes
  • Spelman Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Mercer No
  • Spelman No
  • Meal Plan
  • Mercer Yes
  • Spelman Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Mercer Yes
  • Spelman No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Mercer No
  • Spelman No

Comparable Facts

Compare Mercer University in Macon, GA with Spelman College in Atlanta, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercer University is larger than Spelman based on total student enrollment (9,196 students vs. 3,417 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mercer University is located in Macon, GA (Small City setting); Spelman College is in Atlanta, GA (Large City setting).
  • Mercer University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Spelman College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Mercer University 11:1; Spelman College 11:1.

Mercer vs. Spelman Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Spelman? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Spelman ($24,364 vs. $40,354).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 16.2% lower than at Spelman College ($15,156 vs. $18,091).
  • Mercer University is 34.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Spelman (about $10,756 more per year; $42,312.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 34.1% higher at Mercer than at Spelman College (about $10,756 more per year; $42,312.00 vs. $31,556.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercer University than at Spelman College (100% vs. 96%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 218.5% larger than aid received by Spelman College students ($33,808 vs. $10,614).

Mercer vs. Spelman Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Spelman? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Spelman and Mercer.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Mercer University (1260) is 50 points higher than at Spelman (1210).
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Spelman).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 1160/1350; Spelman College 1108/1320.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mercer University 25/31; Spelman College 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mercer - Required; Spelman - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mercer Jul 1, 2027; Spelman Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Spelman (3.75).
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (68.9%) than Spelman (24.9%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.7% at Mercer vs. 23.6% at Spelman.

Mercer vs. Spelman Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mercer and Spelman? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Spelman College's six-year graduation rate (77%) is higher than Mercer University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Spelman graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,300 vs. $51,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mercer University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Spelman graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Mercer graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Spelman graduates ($258 vs. $279).
  • More Spelman graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (47% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.