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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College Georgia Tech GS SCAD Georgia College Auburn Ogelthorpe Elon| Mercer University | University of North Carolina School of the Arts | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
| Location | Macon, GA | Winston-Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 8,889 | 1,104 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #236 | #291 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mercer.edu | uncsa.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $39,408 | $6,497 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,408 | $23,731 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,046 | $12,902 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $22,087 | $11,251 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $33,740 | $10,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 69% |
Admission |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 7,556 | 1,139 | ||
| Admitted | 5,643 | 362 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.7% | 31.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.9% | 58% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.98 | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1190/1360 | 1115/1350 | ||
| 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 | Mar 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 6:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,300 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 45% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $279 |
Diversity |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 33% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 67% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 48% | 72% | ||
| % Black | 31% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 86% | 43% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 13% | 52% | ||
Campus |
Mercer | UNCSA | ||
| 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 UNCSA based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 1,104 students)
Mercer vs. UNCSA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Mercer or UNCSA?
- Mercer University is 506.6% more expensive to attend than UNCSA for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $6,497.00)
- Out of state tuition is 66.1% higher at Mercer than University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($39,408.00 vs. $23,731.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of North Carolina School of the Arts than Mercer ($11,251 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of North Carolina School of the Arts are 8.9% lower than costs at Mercer University ($12,902 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (100% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 210.5% larger than aid received University of North Carolina School of the Arts ($33,740 vs. $10,868)
Mercer vs. UNCSA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Mercer or UNCSA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UNCSA or Mercer .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 109 points higher than at UNCSA (1108)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at UNCSA (24)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at UNCSA (3.75)
- Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than UNCSA (31.8%)
Mercer vs. UNCSA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Mercer or UNCSA? 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 UNCSA and Mercer.
- The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than University of North Carolina School of the Arts (60% vs. 58%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $18,200 more per year than UNCSA graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $39,100)
- Mercer University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than UNCSA graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
- Mercer graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than UNCSA graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
- More UNCSA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (56% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/