Mercer University

Macon, GA 4,500 Undergrads 67.1% Grad Rate

School Website|Financial Calculator

Total Cost

$58,204

Sticker Price

Avg Net Price

$23,847

After Aid

Median Earnings

$71,870

4yr Post-Grad

Vs. Peer Institutions

Net Price$23,847

Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5

Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$71,870

Peer Midpoint: $60,428

Graduation Rate67.1%

Peer Midpoint: 58.9%

Socio-Economic Diversity

Pell Grant Recipients36.1%

Enrollment Status

Full-Time89.2%

Economic Outcomes

Earn More than HS75.7%

Admissions Profile

Acceptance

68.9%

SAT Avg

1,271

SAT Reading

25th: 59066375th: 680

SAT Math

25th: 57064875th: 670

ACT Composite

25th: 253075th: 31

ROI Sensitivity Analysis

This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.

Lifetime Value Added (NPV)

Institution Lifetime NPV

Vs Median Peer

Vs HS Grad

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

+$628k

+$161k

+$144k

Median Cost$24k/yr

+$542k

+$75k

+$58k

Full Cost$58k/yr

+$419k

-$48k

-$66k

ROI Efficiency Metrics

Break-Even Age

Return on Inv. %

Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0

∞

Median Cost$24k/yr

68%

Full Cost$58k/yr

Never

-31%

Analysis Assumptions:

Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.

Social Impact ROINew

Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.

Donor Return33%

Gov. Pell Grant ROINew

Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.

Taxpayer Return-53%

Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.

Program ROI Analysis

Certificates

Social Sciences, General

CertCIP: 4501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,219

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Bachelor's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

BachCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$26,643

Earnings (4yr)

$75,529

Natl Median: $76,194

Lifetime Value Added

+$86k

Anthropology

BachCIP: 4502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $46,676

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Area Studies

BachCIP: 0501

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $56,625

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology

BachCIP: 2602

Median Debt

$26,874

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,466

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Biology, General

BachCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$24,223

Earnings (4yr)

$59,570

Natl Median: $57,214

Lifetime Value Added

-$38k

Business Administration, Management and Operations

BachCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$75,835

Natl Median: $68,257

Lifetime Value Added

+$88k

Business/Commerce, General

BachCIP: 5201

Median Debt

$37,500

Earnings (4yr)

$77,713

Natl Median: $68,407

Lifetime Value Added

+$103k

Chemistry

BachCIP: 4005

Median Debt

$25,500

Earnings (4yr)

$60,696

Natl Median: $65,120

Lifetime Value Added

-$29k

Classics and Classical Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1612

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $49,429

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Communication and Media Studies

BachCIP: 0901

Median Debt

$24,990

Earnings (4yr)

$52,530

Natl Median: $56,359

Lifetime Value Added

-$96k

Computer and Information Sciences, General

BachCIP: 1101

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$80,937

Natl Median: $92,374

Lifetime Value Added

+$127k

Computer Science

BachCIP: 1107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $107,009

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

BachCIP: 4301

Median Debt

$25,000

Earnings (4yr)

$71,602

Natl Median: $55,378

Lifetime Value Added

+$56k

Criminology

BachCIP: 4504

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,556

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Design and Applied Arts

BachCIP: 5004

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,490

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft

BachCIP: 5005

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $39,775

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Economics

BachCIP: 4506

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $82,686

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Engineering, General

BachCIP: 1401

Median Debt

$25,350

Earnings (4yr)

$88,413

Natl Median: $89,359

Lifetime Value Added

+$184k

English Language and Literature, General

BachCIP: 2301

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$36,848

Natl Median: $48,590

Lifetime Value Added

-$216k

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

BachCIP: 5207

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,027

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies

BachCIP: 0502

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,710

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Finance and Financial Management Services

BachCIP: 5208

Median Debt

$19,500

Earnings (4yr)

$66,036

Natl Median: $83,343

Lifetime Value Added

+$13k

Fine and Studio Arts

BachCIP: 5007

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,367

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Germanic Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1605

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $55,459

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

BachCIP: 5107

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $58,716

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health/Medical Preparatory Programs

BachCIP: 5111

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,911

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

History

BachCIP: 5401

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $50,680

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Human Resources Management and Services

BachCIP: 5210

Median Debt

$28,000

Earnings (4yr)

$68,052

Natl Median: $68,069

Lifetime Value Added

+$29k

Human Services, General

BachCIP: 4400

Median Debt

$41,750

Earnings (4yr)

$45,484

Natl Median: $48,597

Lifetime Value Added

-$155k

Information Science/Studies

BachCIP: 1104

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $85,294

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International Business

BachCIP: 5211

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,201

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

International Relations and National Security Studies

BachCIP: 4509

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,596

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Journalism

BachCIP: 0904

Median Debt

$26,000

Earnings (4yr)

$53,182

Natl Median: $56,278

Lifetime Value Added

-$90k

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

BachCIP: 2401

Median Debt

$31,000

Earnings (4yr)

$48,060

Natl Median: $53,072

Lifetime Value Added

-$133k

Management Information Systems and Services

BachCIP: 5212

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $83,290

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Marketing

BachCIP: 5214

Median Debt

$25,990

Earnings (4yr)

$71,629

Natl Median: $69,303

Lifetime Value Added

+$56k

Mathematics

BachCIP: 2701

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,562

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

BachCIP: 3099

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$54,331

Natl Median: $54,133

Lifetime Value Added

-$89k

Music

BachCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$46,502

Natl Median: $42,892

Lifetime Value Added

-$146k

Neurobiology and Neurosciences

BachCIP: 2615

Median Debt

$25,424

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $62,451

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Non-Professional Legal Studies

BachCIP: 2200

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $61,959

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Philosophy

BachCIP: 3801

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $54,455

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Physics

BachCIP: 4008

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $76,786

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Political Science and Government

BachCIP: 4510

Median Debt

$22,000

Earnings (4yr)

$59,997

Natl Median: $63,293

Lifetime Value Added

-$35k

Psychology, General

BachCIP: 4201

Median Debt

$26,000

Earnings (4yr)

$51,723

Natl Median: $50,706

Lifetime Value Added

-$102k

Public Health

BachCIP: 5122

Median Debt

$27,000

Earnings (4yr)

$60,401

Natl Median: $58,808

Lifetime Value Added

-$31k

Public Policy Analysis

BachCIP: 4405

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $73,721

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication

BachCIP: 0909

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,560

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

BachCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$19,869

Earnings (4yr)

$85,030

Natl Median: $88,910

Lifetime Value Added

+$158k

Religion/Religious Studies

BachCIP: 3802

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $41,390

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies

BachCIP: 2313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,471

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics

BachCIP: 1609

Median Debt

$24,250

Earnings (4yr)

$58,127

Natl Median: $55,000

Lifetime Value Added

-$50k

Social Sciences, General

BachCIP: 4501

Median Debt

$34,800

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $53,366

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Sociology

BachCIP: 4511

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $52,657

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

BachCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$35,500

Earnings (4yr)

$51,513

Natl Median: $47,382

Lifetime Value Added

-$104k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

BachCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $51,389

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Master's Degrees

Accounting and Related Services

MastCIP: 5203

Median Debt

$37,415

Earnings (4yr)

$94,972

Natl Median: $95,833

Lifetime Value Added

+$152k

Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions

MastCIP: 5109

Median Debt

$103,050

Earnings (4yr)

$125,910

Natl Median: $127,347

Lifetime Value Added

+$422k

Biology, General

MastCIP: 2601

Median Debt

$38,702

Earnings (5yr)

$63,099

Natl Median: $69,830

Lifetime Value Added

-$139k

Biomedical/Medical Engineering

MastCIP: 1405

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $106,375

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business Administration, Management and Operations

MastCIP: 5202

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $103,485

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Business/Commerce, General

MastCIP: 5201

Median Debt

$39,318

Earnings (4yr)

$101,623

Natl Median: $125,988

Lifetime Value Added

+$211k

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

MastCIP: 4228

Median Debt

$59,916

Earnings (4yr)

$54,555

Natl Median: $65,184

Lifetime Value Added

-$207k

Computer Engineering

MastCIP: 1409

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$113,358

Natl Median: $136,736

Lifetime Value Added

+$313k

Computer Software and Media Applications

MastCIP: 1108

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $120,083

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Criminal Justice and Corrections

MastCIP: 4301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $66,714

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Education, General

MastCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $65,824

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Educational Administration and Supervision

MastCIP: 1304

Median Debt

$30,750

Earnings (4yr)

$61,710

Natl Median: $71,685

Lifetime Value Added

-$141k

Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering

MastCIP: 1410

Median Debt

Earnings (2yr)

$75,204

Natl Median: $133,654

Lifetime Value Added

+$6k

Engineering, Other

MastCIP: 1499

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $129,974

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Environmental/Environmental Health Engineering

MastCIP: 1414

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $92,629

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Health and Medical Administrative Services

MastCIP: 5107

Median Debt

$28,501

Earnings (4yr)

$86,612

Natl Median: $89,981

Lifetime Value Added

+$79k

Human Services, General

MastCIP: 4400

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$53,659

Natl Median: $57,050

Lifetime Value Added

-$216k

Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

MastCIP: 5213

Median Debt

$30,750

Earnings (4yr)

$103,414

Natl Median: $124,807

Lifetime Value Added

+$226k

Mechanical Engineering

MastCIP: 1419

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $115,974

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions

MastCIP: 5115

Median Debt

$83,629

Earnings (4yr)

$57,040

Natl Median: $59,571

Lifetime Value Added

-$184k

Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other

MastCIP: 3099

Median Debt

$41,000

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $75,122

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Music

MastCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $48,285

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Public Health

MastCIP: 5122

Median Debt

$66,000

Earnings (4yr)

$73,262

Natl Median: $82,751

Lifetime Value Added

-$38k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

MastCIP: 5138

Median Debt

$41,000

Earnings (4yr)

$128,313

Natl Median: $120,193

Lifetime Value Added

+$443k

Social Sciences, General

MastCIP: 4501

Median Debt

$34,167

Earnings (4yr)

$67,767

Natl Median: $65,443

Lifetime Value Added

-$86k

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

MastCIP: 1311

Median Debt

$55,712

Earnings (4yr)

$59,236

Natl Median: $60,111

Lifetime Value Added

-$163k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

MastCIP: 1312

Median Debt

$41,546

Earnings (4yr)

$62,624

Natl Median: $59,916

Lifetime Value Added

-$132k

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas

MastCIP: 1313

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $63,707

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Theological and Ministerial Studies

MastCIP: 3906

Median Debt

$71,061

Earnings (4yr)

$58,680

Natl Median: $61,300

Lifetime Value Added

-$169k

Graduate Certificates

Education, General

Gr-CertCIP: 1301

Median Debt

$20,500

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $69,448

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Educational Administration and Supervision

Gr-CertCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$85,455

Natl Median: $86,288

Lifetime Value Added

+$146k

Student Counseling and Personnel Services

Gr-CertCIP: 1311

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $64,774

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

Gr-CertCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (5yr)

$69,469

Natl Median: $63,709

Lifetime Value Added

-$3k

Doctoral Degrees

Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology

DocCIP: 4228

Median Debt

$151,050

Earnings (4yr)

$94,134

Natl Median: $99,878

Lifetime Value Added

-$35k

Curriculum and Instruction

DocCIP: 1303

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$96,686

Natl Median: $83,031

Lifetime Value Added

-$16k

Educational Administration and Supervision

DocCIP: 1304

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$107,013

Natl Median: $100,573

Lifetime Value Added

+$61k

Law

DocCIP: 2201

Median Debt

$124,216

Earnings (4yr)

$90,359

Natl Median: $105,518

Lifetime Value Added

-$63k

Medicine

DocCIP: 5112

Median Debt

$195,967

Earnings (4yr)

$118,913

Natl Median: $118,504

Lifetime Value Added

+$149k

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration

DocCIP: 5120

Median Debt

$175,359

Earnings (4yr)

$131,552

Natl Median: $136,696

Lifetime Value Added

+$242k

Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing

DocCIP: 5138

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $138,131

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions

DocCIP: 5123

Median Debt

$96,034

Earnings (4yr)

$82,473

Natl Median: $82,893

Lifetime Value Added

-$122k

Theological and Ministerial Studies

DocCIP: 3906

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $71,982

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Other Programs

Education, General

DegCIP: 1301

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

$77,618

Natl Median: $62,645

Lifetime Value Added

-$158k

Music

DegCIP: 5009

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $52,349

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods

DegCIP: 1312

Median Debt

Earnings (4yr)

Natl Median: $57,802

Lifetime Value Added

N/A

Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.

For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.