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Georgia Georgia State Emory KSU Berry College TROY Alabama Southern Community College The University of West Florida Auburn Georgia Tech GS Georgia College| University of South Alabama | Mercer University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
University of South Alabama | Mercer | ||
| Location | Mobile, AL | Macon, GA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,768 | 9,124 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #750 | #221 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | southalabama.edu | mercer.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
University of South Alabama | Mercer | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,976 | $40,590 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,952 | $40,590 | ||
| Room & Board | $8,830 | $14,528 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,613 | $24,197 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,500 | $32,402 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 94% | 100% |
Admission |
University of South Alabama | Mercer | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 12,593 | 11,058 | ||
| Admitted | 8,247 | 7,349 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 65.5% | 66.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.3% | 13.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.69 | 3.98 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1015/1200 | 1180/1350 | ||
| 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 | Jul 15, 2026 | Jul 1, 2026 |
Academics |
University of South Alabama | Mercer | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 18:1 | 13:1 | ||
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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 | 7% | 15% | ||
| % Women | 28% | 32% | ||
| 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 | 26% | 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 (13,768 students vs. 9,124 students)
University of South Alabama vs. Mercer Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or Mercer?
- Mercer University is 352.2% more expensive to attend than University of South Alabama for in-state tuition ($40,590.00 vs. $8,976.00)
- Out of state tuition is 126.1% higher at Mercer than University of South Alabama ($40,590.00 vs. $17,952.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than Mercer ($13,613 vs. $24,197)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 64.5% lower than costs at Mercer University ($8,830 vs. $14,528)
- 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 281.2% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($32,402 vs. $8,500)
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 (66.5%) than University of South Alabama (65.5%)
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/