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Georgia Georgia State Westmont College Biola University Emory KSU USD Berry College Pepperdine San Diego State Georgia Tech GS| Point Loma Nazarene University | Mercer University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | Macon, GA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 4,319 | 8,889 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #292 | #236 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Church of the Nazarene | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | pointloma.edu | mercer.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $40,400 | $39,408 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $40,400 | $39,408 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,800 | $14,046 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $34,933 | $22,087 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $19,422 | $33,740 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,149 | 7,556 | ||
| Admitted | 2,580 | 5,643 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 81.9% | 74.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 26.7% | 15.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.65 | 3.98 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Difficult | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/30 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1170/1350 | 1190/1360 | ||
| 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 | Feb 15, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 |
Academics |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
| Graduation Rate | 72% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,500 | $57,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 79% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $258 |
Diversity |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 34% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 66% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 23% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 70% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 29% | 13% | ||
Campus |
PLNU | Mercer | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Mercer University is larger than than PLNU based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 4,319 students)
PLNU vs. Mercer Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, PLNU or Mercer?
- Point Loma Nazarene University is 2.5% more expensive to attend than Mercer for in-state tuition ($40,400.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- Out of state tuition is 2.5% higher at PLNU than Mercer University ($40,400.00 vs. $39,408.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than PLNU ($22,087 vs. $34,933)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Point Loma Nazarene University are 19% lower than costs at Mercer University ($11,800 vs. $14,046)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Point Loma Nazarene University as Mercer University (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 73.7% larger than aid received Point Loma Nazarene University ($33,740 vs. $19,422)
PLNU vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, PLNU or Mercer? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercer or PLNU .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 69 points higher than at PLNU (1148)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at PLNU (26)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at PLNU (3.65)
- PLNU has a higher acceptance rate (81.9%) than Mercer (74.7%)
PLNU vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, PLNU or Mercer? 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 Mercer and PLNU.
- The graduation rate at PLNU is higher than Mercer University (72% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $3,800 more per year than PLNU graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $53,500)
- Mercer University and PLNU graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($25,000 vs. $25,000)
- Mercer University and PLNU graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($258 vs. $258)
- More PLNU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/