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Auburn Alabama Kentucky Georgia Clemson Ole Miss UofSC Florida State Georgia State ASU IU JMU| Mercer University | The University of Tennessee | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Knoxville, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 33,805 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #232 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | tennessee.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $11,332 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $29,522 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $12,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $21,880 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $10,593 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 88% |
Admission |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 36,290 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 24,826 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 68.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1170/1330 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $56,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $206 |
Diversity |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 3% |
Students |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | Tennessee | ||
| 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
- The University of Tennessee is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (33,805 students vs. 8,889 students)
Mercer vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or Tennessee?
- Mercer University is 247.8% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $11,332.00)
- Out of state tuition is 33.5% higher at Mercer than The University of Tennessee ($39,408.00 vs. $29,522.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Mercer ($21,880 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 15.6% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,150 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than The University of Tennessee (100% vs. 88%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 218.5% larger than aid received The University of Tennessee ($33,740 vs. $10,593)
Mercer vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or Tennessee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 3 points higher than at Tennessee (1214)
- Incoming Mercer students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Tennessee (27)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Tennessee (3.66)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than Tennessee (68.4%)
Mercer vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or Tennessee? 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 Tennessee and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Tennessee is higher than Mercer University (63% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $1,000 more per year than Tennessee graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $56,300)
- The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,000 vs. $25,000)
- Tennessee graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($206 vs. $258)
- More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/