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Summary
Mercer University is a private institution that was founded in 1833. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,409, its setting is city, and the campus size is 150 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Mercer University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is Regional Universities (South), 7. Its tuition and fees are $32,466 (2012-13).
Just an hour south of Atlanta, the main campus of Mercer University is located in the slightly quieter town of Macon, Ga. Mercer offers programs in 11 different colleges and schools, with business being the most popular major. Tradition is important to the Mercer community. For the last 100 years, first year students have climbed the tower of the tallest campus structure, the Godsey Administration Building, to sign their names on the surface. The Mercer Student Government Association also hosts an annual ceremony to light the school Christmas tree. Students can get involved through more than 100 student organizations, Greek life, and athletics. The Mercer Bears sports teams, called the Mercer Baptists until 1924, compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Sun Conference. Graduate students at Mercer can choose from several programs, including those in its school of medicine in Macon or The Eugene W. Stetson School of Business and Economics at the Atlanta campus. Famous Mercer alumni include Nancy Grace of CNN’s The Nancy Grace Show, who graduated from the Walter F. George School of Law in Macon.
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As one of America's oldest and most distinctive institutions of higher learning, Mercer University offers a wide range of rigorous academic programs that span undergraduate to doctoral-level degrees - in liberal arts, business, education, engineering, law, medicine, music, nursing, pharmacy and health sciences, theology, and more. Founded by early 19th century Baptists, Mercer - while no longer formally affiliated with the Baptist denomination - remains committed to an educational environment that embraces intellectual and religious freedom while affirming values that arise from a Judeo-Christian understanding of the world. With more than 8,300 students enrolled in 11 schools and colleges on campuses in Macon, Atlanta, and Savannah, and at four Regional Academic Centers around the state, Mercer has a strong presence in Georgia. However, its more than 65,000 alumni are making important contributions to their professions and communities around the world. Eleven Mercerians have served as governors - of the states of Alabama, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Texas and of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico - and four alumni have served as U.S. Senators. Hundreds more have served as mayors, U.S. Representatives, and state legislators. While offering a breadth of programs found at much larger universities, Mercer maintains an intimate, student-focused culture more characteristic of smaller liberal arts colleges. In the state of Georgia, the University operates the only private engineering school, the largest pharmacy school, one of only four medical schools, and one of only five law schools. In addition, Mercer has one of the more prominent university presses in the country and operates an engineering research center employing 200 scientists and engineers. Central to the Mercer experience is an education that uniquely prepares students to lead virtuous, meaningful, and responsible lives and encourages a thoughtful examination of ethical and moral choices. Service learning, leadership development, and community involvement are three common threads that join all of Mercer's academic programs and experiences. In fact, Mercer's international reputation for exceptional academics in an engaged learning environment continues to grow. For almost two decades, U.S. News & World Report has ranked Mercer among the leading universities in the South. The Princeton Review repeatedly ranks it in the top 10% of all colleges and universities in North America. Mercer University has earned national recognition from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for its commitment to community engagement and has also been named to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for distinguished community service. Among the University's signature programs is Mercer On Mission, a unique blend of study abroad and service-learning that provides life-changing experiences for students through academic instruction, cultural immersion, meaningful service, and spiritual reflection. Working alongside in-country partners, Mercer students and faculty are distributing mosquito nets and bringing water to villages in Africa; fitting amputees in Vietnam with low-cost prosthetic legs; teaching orphans in Guatemala, students in Liberia, and the homeless in Brazil; and delivering much-needed medical care in Thailand. The University is equally committed to the student experience beyond the classroom. A wide variety of organizations, honorary and professional societies, and religious and special interest groups enhance the quality of campus life at all campuses. Mercer is the only private university in the state to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. As a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference and the Pioneer League, Mercer competes in a complete schedule of men's baseball, basketball, cross-country, football, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis and women's basketball, cross-country, golf, sand volleyball, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. |
General Information
| School type | private, coed college |
| Year founded | 1833 |
| Religious affiliation | Baptist |
| Academic calendar | semester |
| Setting | city |
| 2011 Endowment | $196,964,111 |
Applying
When applying to Mercer University, it's important to note the application deadline is July 1, and the early action deadline is November 1. Scores for either the ACT or SAT test are due July 1. The application fee at Mercer University is $50. It is more selective, with an acceptance rate of 82.8 percent.
For more information about the tests, essays, interviews, and admissions process, visit the Applying to College knowledge center.
| Selectivity | more selective |
| Fall 2011 acceptance rate | 82.8% |
| Application deadline | July 1 |
| SAT/ACT scores must be received by | July 1 |
Academic Life
The student-faculty ratio at Mercer University is 12:1, and the school has 68.9 percent of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The most popular majors at Mercer University include: Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Engineering; Social Sciences; and Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 81.5 percent.
Student Life
Mercer University has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,409, with a gender distribution of 32.5 percent male students and 67.5 percent female students. At this school, 67.0 percent of the students live in college-owned, -operated, or -affiliated housing and 33.0 percent of students live off campus. Mercer University is part of the NCAA I athletic conference.
| Total enrollment | 8,336 |
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| Collegiate athletic association | NCAA I |
Campus Info & Services
Mercer University offers a number of student services including nonremedial tutoring, placement service, health service, and health insurance. Mercer University also offers campus safety and security services like 24-hour foot and vehicle patrols, late night transport/escort service, 24-hour emergency telephones, lighted pathways/sidewalks, student patrols, and controlled dormitory access (key, security card, etc). Alcohol is not permitted for students of legal age at Mercer University.
| Students who have cars on campus | N/A |
| Health insurance offered | Yes |
| Students required to own/lease a computer | No |
More About Campus Info & Services
Paying for School
At Mercer University, 68.5 percent of full-time undergraduates receive some kind of need-based financial aid and the average need-based scholarship or grant award is $28,166.
Paying for college doesn't have to be difficult or devastating. Go to the Paying for College knowledge center to get advice on raising cash and reducing costs.
| Tuition and fees | $32,466 (2012-13) |
| Room and board | $10,697 (2012-13) |
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* Overview details based on 2011 data
