Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Georgia Belmont Georgia State Emory Auburn KSU Berry College Lipscomb Birmingham Southern College Georgia Tech GS Georgia College| Samford University | Mercer University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
| Location | Birmingham, AL | Macon, GA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,682 | 8,889 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #213 | #236 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | Baptist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | samford.edu | mercer.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $35,750 | $39,408 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,750 | $39,408 | ||
| Room & Board | $11,264 | $14,046 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $31,803 | $22,087 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,711 | $33,740 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,337 | 7,556 | ||
| Admitted | 3,611 | 5,643 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 83.3% | 74.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 27% | 15.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.84 | 3.98 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1270 | 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 | May 1, 2025 | Jul 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $57,400 | $57,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 77% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $258 |
Diversity |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 32% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 68% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 81% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 5% |
Students |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 25% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 74% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Samford University | Mercer | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Mercer University is larger than than Samford University based on total student enrollment (8,889 students vs. 5,682 students)
Samford University vs. Mercer Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Samford University or Mercer?
- Mercer University is 10.2% more expensive to attend than Samford University for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $35,750.00)
- Out of state tuition is 10.2% higher at Mercer than Samford University ($39,408.00 vs. $35,750.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercer University than Samford University ($22,087 vs. $31,803)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Samford University are 24.7% lower than costs at Mercer University ($11,264 vs. $14,046)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than Samford University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 62.9% larger than aid received Samford University ($33,740 vs. $20,711)
Samford University vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Samford University or Mercer? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercer or Samford University .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 55 points higher than at Samford University (1162)
- Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Samford University (26)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Samford University (3.84)
- Samford University has a higher acceptance rate (83.3%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Samford University vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Samford University 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 Samford University.
- The graduation rate at Samford University is higher than Mercer University (70% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Samford University earn on average $100 more per year than Mercer graduates after ten years. ($57,400 vs. $57,300)
- Samford University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($22,500 vs. $25,000)
- Samford University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($232 vs. $258)
- More Samford University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/