Mercer University
#3 Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia- Graduation Rate
- 72% B
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $58,354 B+
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $23,847 D
- 39% more than the typical college
- Acceptance Rate
- 69% B-
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 14.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best Nursing Colleges in Georgia.
Every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,300,465.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Earnings 43% above the national college median.
-
Social mobility rate of 2.14% — an engine of upward economic mobility.
-
Every $1 invested returns $14.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Economic Footprint
- Inventor Rate
- 0.5%
- Top 48%
- Patents
- 7
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 6
- Downstream influence
Why Mercer University Matters
Mercer University is a private research university in Macon, GA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a strong research base, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Research University
- Carnegie Class
- R2 · High Research
- Enrollment
- 4,500
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Biology & Biomedical, Engineering
Why students choose Mercer University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 69% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1160–1350. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $23,847 a year after grants and scholarships — 39% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $58,354 ten years after enrolling — 43% above the typical college, against $24,199 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 2.1% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 24% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.51 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Mercer University has an acceptance rate of 69%, making it accessible for a diverse group of students. This figure highlights the university's commitment to welcoming a broad range of applicants who can thrive in its academic environment. With an enrollment of about 4,500 students, Mercer provides a community where students can engage closely with faculty and peers.
According to data from Opportunity Insights, Mercer University is positioned to support upward mobility for its students. Though specific mobility rates are not available, the institution's strong graduation rate of 72% suggests that many students successfully complete their degrees. Graduates can expect to earn an average of $58,354 within ten years of finishing their studies, indicating a solid return on investment for their education.
The cost of attendance at Mercer is approximately $23,847, with median student debt sitting at $24,199. This financial landscape means that while students may take on debt, they also have the potential for good earnings after graduation. Students who thrive here often pursue programs in health professions, business, biology, and engineering, finding solid career pathways in growing fields.
Rankings
Can I Get In?
How selective Mercer University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mercer University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Macon, Georgia, Mercer University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,271. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 69%
- Retention Rate
- 82%
- SAT Average
- 1271
- ACT Midpoint
- 30
- SAT Range
- 1160–1350
- ACT Range
- 25–31
- Full-Time Faculty
- 98%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $9,556
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.71
- First-Gen Students
- 28%
- Applicants
- 7,556
- Admitted
- 5,643
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mercer University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mercer University is $42,312, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,847. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,817 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,199 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $42,312
- Out-of-State
- $42,312
- Avg Net Price
- $23,847
- Median Debt
- $24,199
- Pell Grant Rate
- 35%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 62%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $19,817
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $21,484
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $22,533
- Family Income $110K+
- $26,770
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Mercer University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Mercer University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mercer University earn a median of $58,354, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $50,231
- 8 Years
- $53,833
- 10 Years
- $58,354
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.41x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (498)
- 62%
- 100% (498)
- 62%
- 100% (498)
- 62%
- 100% (498)
- 62%
How Mercer Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Mercer University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Mercer University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $23,847/year ($95,388 total). Graduates earn $58,354 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,395,853 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,300,465 (14.6× your investment). The median debt is $24,199, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 72% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $95,388
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,395,853
- Net Return
- $1,300,465
- ROI Multiple
- 14.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $23,847
- Median Debt
- $24,199
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 72%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Mercer University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mercer University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.14%, among the highest in the country. About 7.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 2.14%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 27.4%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 7.8%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $122,278
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Innovation & Knowledge Creation
Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education
Mercer University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 7 patents tied to its graduates.
- Inventor Rate
- 0.48%
- Top 48% nationally
- Patents Produced
- 7
- Linked to graduates
- Patent Citations
- 6
- Downstream influence
- Inventors From Low-Income
- 0.49%
- Bottom-20% families
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Investment Income
- $-27,112,593
Top Programs
The fields Mercer University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 22% $74,023 early-career
- Business & Marketing 16% $63,659 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 10% $32,647 early-career
- Engineering 9% $59,088 early-career
- Psychology 9% $36,985 early-career
- Education 6% $44,378 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $46,778 early-career
- Communications 4% $45,495 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Mercer University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Mercer University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a private institution in Macon, Georgia, Mercer University offers a realistic path to admission, with roughly 69% of applicants receiving an offer. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,271. The graduation rate is roughly 72%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Mercer University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Mercer University is $42,312, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $23,847. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,817 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $24,199 in federal student loans.
Is Mercer University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Mercer University earn a median of $58,354, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
Does Mercer University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Mercer University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 2.14%, among the highest in the country. About 7.8% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 27.4% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $90,000, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Mercer University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Mercer University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Mercer University.
- SUNY OneontaOneonta, NY · Close peer70% grad $60,386 earn 70% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Hampton UniversityHampton, VA · Close peer56% grad $59,159 earn 62% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Calvin UniversityGrand Rapids, MI · Close peer76% grad $58,375 earn 71% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- State University of New York at CortlandCortland, NY · Close peer68% grad $60,236 earn 60% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Cedarville UniversityCedarville, OH · Close peer73% grad $55,443 earn 65% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Biola UniversityLa Mirada, CA · Close peer68% grad $56,778 earn 74% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Mercer University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Mercer University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.51, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.03), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note