Mercer vs Piedmont University

Mercer University and Piedmont University, both esteemed institutions of higher learning in Georgia, offer distinct educational experiences. Mercer, a private Baptist university, boasts a lower acceptance rate (68%) compared to Piedmont's (80%), indicating a more selective admissions process. Mercer's student body is larger and more diverse, with a higher percentage of female students and a greater representation of international students. In contrast, Piedmont's student body is predominantly male and primarily comprises students from the southeastern United States. While Mercer offers a wider range of undergraduate programs, including popular majors like nursing, business, and education, Piedmont excels in fields such as business, computer science, and psychology. Both universities boast impressive graduation rates, with Mercer's slightly higher at 67% compared to Piedmont's 65%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Mercer University logo

Mercer University

Piedmont University logo

Piedmont University

Overview

Location Macon, Georgia Demorest, Georgia
Campus setting City: Midsize Town: Distant
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 86.0% 76.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation Protestant

Admission

Acceptance rate 75.4% 67.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
$25
SAT range 1220 - 1400 1010 - 1220
ACT range 28 - 32 21 - 25
Students submitting SAT score 26.0% 39.0%
Students submitting ACT score 17.0% 20.0%
Total number of applicants 7,201 2,124
Total number of admissions given out 5,430 1,423
Admitted students who chose to enroll 950 249
Yield rate 17.5% 17.5%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $56,162 $42,474
Average net price $21,164 $19,803
Tuition $38,446 $28,120
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,580

Meal plan: $6,858
Room/dormitory: $6,160

Meal plan: $5,040
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

100.0%
Average amount $32,845
100.0%
Average amount $22,519
Students receiving federal student loan 51.0%
Average amount $5,473
60.0%
Average amount $5,735
Students taking out private loans 16.0%
Average amount $10,195
11.0%
Average amount $9,977

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,941
Men 34.6% Women 65.4%
1,255
Men 33.1% Women 66.9%
Graduate students 4,068
Men 31.4% Women 68.6%
805
Men 20.0% Women 80.0%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students 11.6% 14.2%
International students 2.6% 0.6%
Campus local/setting City: Midsize Town: Distant
Dormitory capacity 3,025 847
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Georgia Florida Alabama South Carolina Tennessee Georgia Florida New York Tennessee Connecticut

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Legal Profession
  • Psychology
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 9:1
Institutional accreditation Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges

Outcome

Graduation rate 73.6% 48.0%
Dropout rate 4.8% 51.3%
Transferred out 21.2% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $102,958
  • Year 2: $115,064
  • Year 3: $119,786
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,104
  • Year 2: $95,930
  • Year 3: $108,135
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $97,605
  • Year 2: $90,856
  • Year 3: $99,907
Computer Engineering (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $80,042
  • Year 2: $85,538
  • Year 3: $90,728
Educational Administration and Supervision (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $86,601
  • Year 2: $87,604
  • Year 3: $88,650
Business/Commerce, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,345
  • Year 2: $70,736
  • Year 3: $77,709
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $69,717
  • Year 2: $71,127
  • Year 3: $75,469
Curriculum and Instruction (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,283
  • Year 2: $72,682
  • Year 3: $74,940
Engineering, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,626
  • Year 2: $49,729
  • Year 3: $73,114
Accounting and Related Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,605
  • Year 2: $54,109
  • Year 3: $69,855
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,349
  • Year 2: $60,481
  • Year 3: $62,672
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,786
  • Year 2: $57,047
  • Year 3: $59,586
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,903
  • Year 2: $47,192
  • Year 3: $51,130
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,807
  • Year 2: $41,342
  • Year 3: $46,497
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $31,809
  • Year 2: $39,648
  • Year 3: $41,108
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,396
  • Year 2: $40,140
  • Year 3: $38,511
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $18,200
  • Year 2: $33,459
  • Year 3: $37,207
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,027
  • Year 2: $35,249
  • Year 3: $37,185
Curriculum and Instruction (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $58,943
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $72,134
  • Year 3: N/A

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