Mercer vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville

Should I go to Mercer University or University of North Carolina at Asheville? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercer or University of North Carolina at Asheville is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Mercer University vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville comparison
Mercer University University of North Carolina at Asheville College 3 College 4
Mercer University University of North Carolina at Asheville
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Overview

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
Location Macon, GA Asheville, NC
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 8,889 2,914
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #444
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu unca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $4,122
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $21,470
Room & Board $14,046 $10,556
Avg Net Price $22,087 $14,730
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $6,491
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 90%

Admission

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 4,278
Admitted 5,643 3,179
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 74.3%
Enrolled % 15.9% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.49
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 21/28
SAT Range 1190/1360 1145/1340
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 1, 2025

Academics

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Business (8%)
  • English and Literature (8%)

Outcomes

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
Graduation Rate 60% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $37,900
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 61%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,641
Median Loan Payment $258 $213

Diversity

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
% Men 33% 42%
% Women 67% 58%
Racial Diversity Very High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 48% 80%
% Black 31% 4%
% Hispanic 5% 5%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 5% 4%

Students

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
% In-State 86% 82%
% Out-of-State 13% 16%

Campus

Mercer University of North Carolina at Asheville
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 University of North Carolina at Asheville based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 2,914 students)

Mercer vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or University of North Carolina at Asheville?

  • Mercer University is 856% more expensive to attend than University of North Carolina at Asheville for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $4,122.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 83.5% higher at Mercer than University of North Carolina at Asheville ($39,408.00 vs. $21,470.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina at Asheville than Mercer ($14,730 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina at Asheville are 33.1% lower than costs at Mercer University ($10,556 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than University of North Carolina at Asheville (100% vs. 90%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 419.8% larger than aid received University of North Carolina at Asheville ($33,740 vs. $6,491)

Mercer vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or University of North Carolina at Asheville? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between University of North Carolina at Asheville or Mercer .

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 58 points higher than at University of North Carolina at Asheville (1159)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at University of North Carolina at Asheville (26)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.49 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at University of North Carolina at Asheville (3.49)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than University of North Carolina at Asheville (74.3%)

Mercer vs. University of North Carolina at Asheville Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercer or University of North Carolina at Asheville? 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 University of North Carolina at Asheville and Mercer.

  • The graduation rate at University of North Carolina at Asheville is higher than Mercer University (61% vs. 60%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $19,400 more per year than University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $37,900)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville students graduate with a $4,359 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,641 vs. $25,000)
  • University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are paying $45 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($213 vs. $258)
  • More University of North Carolina at Asheville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/