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Tennessee Ole Miss Auburn LSU Georgia Clemson Kentucky Arkansas Georgia State Florida Florida State OU| The University of Alabama | Mercer University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL | Macon, GA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 38,644 | 8,889 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #404 | #236 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ua.edu | mercer.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,100 | $39,408 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,460 | $39,408 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,426 | $14,046 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,592 | $22,087 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,683 | $33,740 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 100% |
Admission |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 54,072 | 7,556 | ||
| Admitted | 43,290 | 5,643 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.1% | 74.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.6% | 15.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | 3.98 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/31 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1410 | 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 |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 60% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,900 | $57,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 45% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,750 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $258 |
Diversity |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 33% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 67% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 48% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 31% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 5% |
Students |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Alabama | Mercer | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- The University of Alabama is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (38,644 students vs. 8,889 students)
Alabama vs. Mercer Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Mercer?
- Mercer University is 255% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $11,100.00)
- Out of state tuition is 25.3% higher at Mercer than The University of Alabama ($39,408.00 vs. $31,460.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than Mercer ($20,592 vs. $22,087)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercer University are 2.7% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($14,046 vs. $14,426)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than The University of Alabama (100% vs. 82%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 115.1% larger than aid received The University of Alabama ($33,740 vs. $15,683)
Alabama vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or Mercer? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercer or Alabama .
- The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 36 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
- Incoming Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Mercer (27)
- Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at Alabama (3.76)
- Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Mercer (74.7%)
Alabama vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Alabama 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 Alabama.
- The graduation rate at Alabama is higher than Mercer University (66% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $7,400 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $49,900)
- The University of Alabama students graduate with a $1,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($23,750 vs. $25,000)
- Alabama graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($245 vs. $258)
- More Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (59% vs. 45%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/