Mercer University

www.mercer.edu

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$29,024

1.15% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$21,164

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

1.04%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

75.4%

7,201 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

9,009

79.5% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

73.6%

607 Graduates

About

Mercer University is a higher education institution located in Bibb County, GA. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Mercer University were Registered Nursing (204 degrees awarded), General Engineering (116 degrees), and General Biological Sciences (76 degrees).

In 2021, 2,772 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Mercer University. 66.5% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 33.5% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (1,312 degrees), 1.64 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (798 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Mercer University is $29,024, which is $32 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Mercer University is $29,024, which is $32 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $21,164.

In 2021, 91% of undergraduate students attending Mercer University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 56% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$29,024

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Mercer University was $29,024. The cost of tuition at Mercer University is $32 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Mercer University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$21,164

2021 Value

2.44%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Mercer University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $21,164. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Mercer University grew by 2.44%.

This chart compares the average net price of Mercer University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,070

Room and Board

$1,200

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Mercer University was of $13,070 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 8.59% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,200. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Mercer University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

91%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

56%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

91% of undergraduate students at Mercer University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a decline of 2.15% with respect to 2020, when 93% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Mercer University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

1.04%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Mercer University was 1.04%, which represents 24 out of the 2297 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Mercer University received 7,201 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 27.4% annual growth. Out of those 7,201 applicants, 5,430 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 75.4% acceptance rate.

There were 9,009 students enrolled at Mercer University in 2021. 26% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Mercer University has an overall enrollment yield of 17.5%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

75.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

5,430

Accepted Out of 7,201

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Mercer University was 75.4% (5,430 admissions from 7,201 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 78.2%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 27.4%, while admissions grew by 22.9%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Mercer University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

26%

Submission Percentage (2021)

249

Scores Submitted (2021)

26% of enrolled first-time students at Mercer University in 2021 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Mercer University had a total enrollment of 9,009 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Mercer University is 7,165 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,844. This means that 79.5% of students enrolled at Mercer University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Mercer University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 45.2% White, 31.3% Black or African American, 8.67% Asian, 6.06% Hispanic or Latino, 3.17% Two or More Races, 0.133% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0777% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Mercer University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (27.6%), followed by White Male (20.7%) and Black or African American Female (19.7%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (30.2%), followed by Black or African American Female (19.8%) and White Male (18.4%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

79.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Mercer University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 9,009 students. The full-time enrollment at Mercer University is 7,165 and the part-time enrollment is 1,844. This means that 79.5% of students enrolled at Mercer University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Mercer University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

86%

2021 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Mercer University was 86%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), Mercer University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Mercer University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
4,075 enrolled students
Black or African American
2,816 enrolled students
Asian
781 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Mercer University is 45.2% White, 31.3% Black or African American, 8.67% Asian, 6.06% Hispanic or Latino, 3.17% Two or More Races, 0.133% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0777% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 247 students (2.74%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 912 more women than men received degrees from Mercer University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Mercer University is white (1,312 degrees awarded). There were 1.64 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (798 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Mercer University is Registered Nursing (204 degrees awarded), followed by General Engineering (116 degrees) and General Biological Sciences (76 degrees).

In 2021, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Mercer University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Legal (137 degrees awarded), EDUCATION. (354 degrees), and Biology (167 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Elementary & middle school teachers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Mercer University are Elementary & middle school teachers (1,658,943 people), Secondary school teachers (450,219 people), Other managers (443,423 people), Software developers (420,090 people), and Physicians (418,440 people).

The most specialized majors at Mercer University in 2021 are Legal (137 degrees awarded), EDUCATION. (354 degrees), Biology (167 degrees), Engineering (186 degrees), and THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. (25 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Mercer University are Podiatrists, Surgeons, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, Nuclear medicine technologists and medical dosimetrists, and Physicians

The most specialized majors at Mercer University are Legal (137 degrees awarded), EDUCATION. (354 degrees), Biology (167 degrees), Engineering (186 degrees), and THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS VOCATIONS. (25 degrees) (as of 2021).

Common Industries by Major

Elementary & secondary schools

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Mercer University are Elementary & secondary schools (2,804,689 people), General medical and surgical hospitals, and specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals (588,205 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (579,650 people), Computer Systems Design (492,521 people), and Architectural, engineering & related services (441,427 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Mercer University.

Most Common (2021)

Registered Nursing
204 degrees awarded
General Engineering
116 degrees awarded
General Biological Sciences
76 degrees awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Mercer University was Registered Nursing with 204 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Mercer University according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

930

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

1,842

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 930 degrees were awarded to men at Mercer University, which is 0.505 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,842).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Mercer University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 76 degrees were awarded to men at Mercer University in General Engineering, which is 1.9 times more than the 40 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 178 degrees were awarded to men at Mercer University in Registered Nursing, which is 6.85 times more than the 26 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

52%

100% Completion Time

66%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 52% of students graduating from Mercer University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 66% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 66% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (83.8%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Mercer University is Female and Asian (83.8% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.32% of graduates (8 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
1,312 degrees awarded
Black or African American
798 degrees awarded
Asian
252 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Mercer University is white (1,312 degrees awarded). There were 1.64 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american (798 degrees).

4.08% of degree recipients (113 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
805 degrees awarded
Black or African American Female
607 degrees awarded
White Male
507 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Mercer University is white female (805 degrees awarded). There were 1.33 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, black or african american female (607 degrees).

Operations

Mercer University has an endowment valued at nearly $475M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 113M (23.7%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Mercer University had a total salary expenditure of 301M. Mercer University employs 134 Assistant professors, 115 Professors and 115 Associate professors. Most academics at Mercer University are Female Assistant professor (84), Male Professor (74), and Female Associate professor (61).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Mercer University are: Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 269 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media, with 149 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 140 employees.

Endowment

$475M

2021 Endowment

31.5%

growth from 2020

Mercer University has an endowment valued at about $475M, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Mercer University grew 31.5% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $87.9M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Mercer University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Moderate Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Salary Expenditure

$140M

2021 Salaries

3.18%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Mercer University paid a median of $140M in salaries, which represents 46.5% of their overall expenditure ($301M) and a 3.18% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$34.5M

Instructional Salaries

399

Number of Employees

In 2021, Mercer University paid a total of $34.5M to 399 employees working as instructors, which represents 24.7% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Assistant professor

Most Common Instructor

134 Employees

Computer, Engineering, and Science

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

269 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Mercer University were Assistant professor with 134 employees, Professor with 115 employees, and Associate professor with 115 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Mercer University were Computer, Engineering, and Science with 269 employees, Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 149 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 140 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Female Assistant professor
Male Professor
Female Associate professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Mercer University was Female Assistant professor with 84 employees, Male Professor with 74 employees, and Female Associate professor with 61 employees.

This chart shows the sex split between each academic rank present at Mercer University.