Mercer vs. William Carey University

Should I go to Mercer University or William Carey University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Mercer or William Carey University 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. William Carey University comparison
Mercer University William Carey University College 3 College 4
Mercer University William Carey University
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Overview

Mercer William Carey University
Location Macon, GA Hattiesburg, MS
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 8,889 5,662
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #236 #435
Religious Affiliation - Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mercer.edu wmcarey.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Mercer William Carey University
Tuition (In State) $39,408 $13,500
Tuition (Out of State) $39,408 $13,500
Room & Board $14,046 $7,463
Avg Net Price $22,087 $15,271
Avg Grant Aid $33,740 $13,331
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Mercer William Carey University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,556 517
Admitted 5,643 277
Acceptance Rate 74.7% 53.6%
Enrolled % 15.9% 64.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.98 3.46
Typical High School Grades A- B+
Admissions Standards Very High Difficult
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 26/31 20/29
SAT Range 1190/1360 1050/1320
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 William Carey University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Health Professions (24%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Business (10%)

Outcomes

Mercer William Carey University
Graduation Rate 60% 51%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $57,300 $40,900
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $20,192
Median Loan Payment $258 $208

Diversity

Mercer William Carey University
% Men 33% 33%
% Women 67% 67%
Racial Diversity Very High High
HBCU No No
% White 48% 60%
% Black 31% 31%
% Hispanic 5% 2%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 5% 1%

Students

Mercer William Carey University
% In-State 86% 69%
% Out-of-State 13% 22%

Campus

Mercer William Carey University
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 William Carey University based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 5,662 students)

Mercer vs. William Carey University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mercer or William Carey University?

  • Mercer University is 191.9% more expensive to attend than William Carey University for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $13,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 191.9% higher at Mercer than William Carey University ($39,408.00 vs. $13,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at William Carey University than Mercer ($15,271 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at William Carey University are 88.2% lower than costs at Mercer University ($7,463 vs. $14,046)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University as William Carey University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 153.1% larger than aid received William Carey University ($33,740 vs. $13,331)

Mercer vs. William Carey University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 146 points higher than at William Carey University (1071)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at William Carey University (24)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at William Carey University (3.46)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than William Carey University (53.6%)

Mercer vs. William Carey University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Mercer or William Carey University? 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 William Carey University and Mercer.

  • The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than William Carey University (60% vs. 51%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $16,400 more per year than William Carey University graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $40,900)
  • William Carey University students graduate with a $4,808 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($20,192 vs. $25,000)
  • William Carey University graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($208 vs. $258)
  • More William Carey University 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/