Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Mercer University #532 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,857 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mercer University in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Mercer University #366 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Mercer University #532 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private research university (Carnegie R2) in Macon, Georgia, Mercer University enrolls roughly 4,500 undergraduates. Retention is 82.2% and the six-year graduation rate is 69.6%, reflecting solid conversion of enrollment into degree completion. Where Mercer University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Mercer University #366 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,857 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mercer University in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in Health fields — which represent a substantial share of degrees — anchors these earnings outcomes and drives the university's competitive positioning on long-term financial returns. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Mercer University sits in the 71.9 percentile for access and the 37.3 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. These positions reflect the university's private-institution cost structure and a student population where 35.4% receive Pell Grants and 28.2% are first-generation college students. Mobility outcomes rank in the 45.0 percentile, indicating that while Mercer University graduates move into stable careers, the institution's access constraints limit the scale of low-income student mobility relative to broader-access peers.
Mercer University's published cost of attendance is $58,204. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,817, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,484, middle-income families pay about $22,533, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $25,184, and higher-income families pay around $26,770. Azimuth ranks Mercer University #894 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Mercer University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs. Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The aid structure prioritizes need-based support, and merit scholarships are available for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,199, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Mercer University's median four-year earnings of $71,870, median federal debt of $24,199 projects to a monthly payment of about $273 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Mercer University is a strong fit for students interested in health professions who want a private university experience in GA, with outcomes that place it in the 64.3 percentile for overall value among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $71,870, placing Mercer University in the 73.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $4,857 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 75.6 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The university serves a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 35.4% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 28.2% are first-generation. Those figures track GA's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 68.9% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Health fields (16% of degrees). Students whose interests align with those areas will find the strongest outcomes.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the Mercer University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Engineering, General
131 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
217 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
8 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
24 graduates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
31 graduates
Mercer University's program mix is anchored in health professions and applied sciences — a portfolio shaped by the institution's mission as a health-focused private university. Nursing is the largest program with 217 graduates annually, followed by Engineering, Psychology, General, Teacher Education, and Digital Marketing.
Across 44 total programs serving roughly 1,287 students annually, 0 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold, with several delivering strong four-year earnings outcomes aligned to healthcare and professional service sectors. The earnings pattern reflects Mercer University's concentration in health and applied fields.
Engineering leads with median earnings of $88,413 four years after enrollment across 131 graduates, followed by Nursing earning $85,030 with 217 graduates and Digital Marketing earning $71,629 with 62 graduates. Finance and Public Health round out the highest-earning programs, with graduates earning $66,036 and $60,401 respectively.
These outcomes cluster in healthcare delivery, nursing, pharmacy, and related clinical professions where credential-based licensing and employer demand support consistent earnings trajectories. Several of these programs represent grad-school-dependent pathways where four-year earnings undercount lifetime trajectory — notably programs in pre-health sciences and foundational health disciplines where graduates continue to medical school, pharmacy school, or graduate study.
Clinical and direct-service programs like nursing and physician assistant studies, by contrast, are high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect immediate labor-market outcomes. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Mercer University's health-professions focus aligns with national demand in healthcare sectors.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Georgia College & State University Higher acceptance rate (21.3 percentage points higher) and located 30 miles away; similar graduate earnings | GA | 88% | $58,140 | Compare |
Samford University Higher acceptance rate (15.8 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | AL | 82% | $58,469 | Compare |
Shenandoah University Higher acceptance rate (11.4 percentage points higher) with similar program focus; similar graduate earnings | VA | 78% | $58,433 | Compare |
Lagrange College Same state (82 miles away) (earnings difference: 11.3%) and similar program focus; same institution type | GA | 63% | $51,745 | Compare |
Spelman College Same state (77 miles away) with nearly identical earnings; same institution type | GA | 34% | $59,993 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University Of The Cumberlands Similar quality tier in Southeast (#15452 ranked) | KY | 99% | $45,036 | #15452 | Compare |
Hamilton College Similar quality tier (#15447 ranked) | NY | 14% | $78,411 | #15447 | Compare |
Benedictine University Similar quality tier (#15505 ranked) | IL | 95% | $63,446 | #15505 | Compare |
Texas Christian University Similar quality tier (#15516 ranked) | TX | 44% | $68,424 | #15516 | Compare |
University Of The Incarnate Word Similar quality tier (#15529 ranked) | TX | 98% | $56,733 | #15529 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Mercer University's published cost of attendance is $58,204. Need-based financial aid reshapes that figure across income levels: low-income families pay approximately $19,817, families in the lower-middle income band pay around $21,484, middle-income families pay about $22,533, families in the upper-middle income band pay approximately $25,184, and higher-income families pay around $26,770.
Azimuth ranks Mercer University #894 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Mercer University meets demonstrated financial need for admitted students through a combination of need-based scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. The institution participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans), state, and institutional aid programs.
Families apply for need-based aid using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The aid structure prioritizes need-based support, and merit scholarships are available for qualifying students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $24,199, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $20,000; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at Mercer University's median four-year earnings of $71,870, median federal debt of $24,199 projects to a monthly payment of about $273 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Mercer University earn median 4-year earnings of $71,870, placing Mercer University in the 73.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $4,857 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mercer University in the 75.6 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Mercer University #366 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Mercer University's concentration in health-related fields.
Nursing is the largest program with 217 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $85,030, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Engineering program graduates 131 students with median 4-year earnings of $88,413, and Psychology, General delivers median 4-year earnings of $51,723 across 84 graduates.
These health-sciences-anchored programs form the core of Mercer University's degree output and align with stable, in-demand career pathways that support the institution's strong long-term financial outcomes.
