Alabama vs. Mercer

Should I go to The University of Alabama or Mercer University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama or Mercer 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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The University of Alabama vs. Mercer University comparison
The University of Alabama Mercer University College 3 College 4
The University of Alabama Mercer University
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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
Student to Faculty Ratio 19:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (29%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Work and Family Studies (7%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

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/