University of South Alabama vs. Mercer

Should I go to University of South Alabama or Mercer University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of South 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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University of South Alabama vs. Mercer University comparison
University of South Alabama Mercer University College 3 College 4
University of South Alabama Mercer University
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Overview

University of South Alabama Mercer
Location Mobile, AL Macon, GA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 13,438 8,889
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #236
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu mercer.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama Mercer
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $39,408
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $39,408
Room & Board $8,510 $14,046
Avg Net Price $15,664 $22,087
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $33,740
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 100%

Admission

University of South Alabama Mercer
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 7,556
Admitted 8,203 5,643
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 74.7%
Enrolled % 19.7% 15.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.98
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26 26/31
SAT Range 1003/1200 1190/1360
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Jul 1, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama Mercer
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Human Services (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama Mercer
Graduation Rate 39% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $57,300
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 45%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $258

Diversity

University of South Alabama Mercer
% Men 32% 33%
% Women 68% 67%
Racial Diversity High Very High
HBCU No No
% White 59% 48%
% Black 24% 31%
% Hispanic 3% 5%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

University of South Alabama Mercer
% In-State 73% 86%
% Out-of-State 25% 13%

Campus

University of South Alabama 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

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than Mercer based on total student enrollment (13,438 students vs. 8,889 students)

University of South Alabama vs. Mercer Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or Mercer?

  • Mercer University is 357.4% more expensive to attend than University of South Alabama for in-state tuition ($39,408.00 vs. $8,616.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 128.7% higher at Mercer than University of South Alabama ($39,408.00 vs. $17,232.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than Mercer ($15,664 vs. $22,087)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 65.1% lower than costs at Mercer University ($8,510 vs. $14,046)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mercer University than University of South Alabama (100% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mercer University students is 339% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($33,740 vs. $7,686)

University of South Alabama vs. Mercer Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of South Alabama or Mercer? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercer or University of South Alabama .

  • The average SAT score at Mercer University (1217) is 172 points higher than at University of South Alabama (1045)
  • Incoming Mercer students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at University of South Alabama (23)
  • Accepted freshman Mercer students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.98) than students at University of South Alabama (3.69)
  • Mercer has a higher acceptance rate (74.7%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

University of South Alabama vs. Mercer Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South 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 University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Mercer is higher than University of South Alabama (60% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Mercer University earn on average $12,100 more per year than University of South Alabama graduates after ten years. ($57,300 vs. $45,200)
  • University of South Alabama students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Mercer graduates. ($24,500 vs. $25,000)
  • University of South Alabama graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Mercer graduates. ($253 vs. $258)
  • More University of South Alabama graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercer students, three years after graduation. (45% vs. 45%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/