UA Huntsville vs. Mercer

Deciding between University of Alabama in Huntsville and Mercer University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Alabama in Huntsville
Mercer University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UA Huntsville Huntsville, AL
  • Mercer Macon, GA
  • Setting
  • UA Huntsville Midsize City
  • Mercer Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UA Huntsville 8,564
  • Mercer 9,196
  • Type
  • UA Huntsville Public 4 Year
  • Mercer Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UA Huntsville #471
  • Mercer #201
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UA Huntsville -
  • Mercer -
  • Status
  • UA Huntsville Non-profit
  • Mercer Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UA Huntsville
  • Mercer
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UA Huntsville $12,132
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UA Huntsville $26,408
  • Mercer $42,312
  • Room & Board
  • UA Huntsville $12,428
  • Mercer $15,156
  • Average Net Price
  • UA Huntsville $19,396
  • Mercer $24,364
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UA Huntsville $9,268
  • Mercer $33,808
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UA Huntsville 95%
  • Mercer 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UA Huntsville 7,630
  • Mercer 9,813
  • Admitted
  • UA Huntsville 5,232
  • Mercer 6,760
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UA Huntsville 68.6%
  • Mercer 68.9%
  • Enrolled
  • UA Huntsville 23.2%
  • Mercer 12.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UA Huntsville 1310
  • Mercer 1260
  • Typical ACT score
  • UA Huntsville 27
  • Mercer 28
  • Average High School GPA
  • UA Huntsville 3.81
  • Mercer 3.98
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UA Huntsville A-
  • Mercer A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UA Huntsville Very High
  • Mercer Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • UA Huntsville Low
  • Mercer Low
  • ACT Range
  • UA Huntsville 24/31
  • Mercer 25/31
  • SAT Range
  • UA Huntsville 1210/1410
  • Mercer 1160/1350
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UA Huntsville Test optional
  • Mercer Required
  • Application Deadline
  • UA Huntsville
  • Mercer Jul 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UA Huntsville 17:1
  • Mercer 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UA Huntsville
    • Engineering (24%)
    • Business (24%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Biology (6%)
    • Psychology (4%)
  • Mercer
    • Health Professions (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Human Services (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UA Huntsville 45%
  • Mercer 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UA Huntsville $50,500
  • Mercer $57,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UA Huntsville 55%
  • Mercer 45%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UA Huntsville $23,500
  • Mercer $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UA Huntsville $242
  • Mercer $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UA Huntsville 59%
  • Mercer 34%
  • % Women
  • UA Huntsville 41%
  • Mercer 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UA Huntsville Medium
  • Mercer High
  • HBCU
  • UA Huntsville No
  • Mercer No
  • % White
  • UA Huntsville 70%
  • Mercer 48%
  • % Asian
  • UA Huntsville 4%
  • Mercer 6%
  • % Black
  • UA Huntsville 12%
  • Mercer 31%
  • % Hispanic
  • UA Huntsville 4%
  • Mercer 5%
  • % Native American
  • UA Huntsville 1%
  • Mercer 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UA Huntsville 0%
  • Mercer 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UA Huntsville 2%
  • Mercer 3%
  • % International
  • UA Huntsville 3%
  • Mercer 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UA Huntsville 3%
  • Mercer 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UA Huntsville 67%
  • Mercer 85%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UA Huntsville 31%
  • Mercer 14%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • UA Huntsville Yes
  • Mercer Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • UA Huntsville No
  • Mercer No
  • Meal Plan
  • UA Huntsville Yes
  • Mercer Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • UA Huntsville No
  • Mercer Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • UA Huntsville Yes
  • Mercer No

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Alabama in Huntsville in Huntsville, AL with Mercer University in Macon, GA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mercer University is larger than UA Huntsville based on total student enrollment (9,196 students vs. 8,564 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Alabama in Huntsville is located in Huntsville, AL (Midsize City setting); Mercer University is in Macon, GA (Small City setting).
  • University of Alabama in Huntsville is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mercer University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Alabama in Huntsville 17:1; Mercer University 11:1.

UA Huntsville vs. Mercer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UA Huntsville or Mercer? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Alabama in Huntsville than Mercer ($19,396 vs. $24,364).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Alabama in Huntsville are 18% lower than at Mercer University ($12,428 vs. $15,156).
  • Mercer University is 248.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UA Huntsville (about $30,180 more per year; $42,312.00 vs. $12,132.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.2% higher at Mercer than at University of Alabama in Huntsville (about $15,904 more per year; $42,312.00 vs. $26,408.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mercer University than at University of Alabama in Huntsville (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 264.8% larger than aid received by University of Alabama in Huntsville students ($33,808 vs. $9,268).

UA Huntsville vs. Mercer Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UA Huntsville or Mercer? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mercer and UA Huntsville.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Alabama in Huntsville (1310) is 50 points higher than at Mercer (1260).
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at UA Huntsville).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alabama in Huntsville 1210/1410; Mercer University 1160/1350.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Alabama in Huntsville 24/31; Mercer University 25/31.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UA Huntsville - Test optional; Mercer - Required.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Mercer Jul 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at UA Huntsville (3.81).
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (68.9%) than UA Huntsville (68.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.2% at UA Huntsville vs. 12.7% at Mercer.

UA Huntsville vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UA Huntsville and Mercer? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Mercer University's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than University of Alabama in Huntsville's (45%).
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than UA Huntsville graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,300 vs. $50,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Alabama in Huntsville graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than Mercer graduates ($23,500 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, UA Huntsville graduates have an estimated $16 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mercer graduates ($242 vs. $258).
  • More UA Huntsville graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.