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Mercer University

Macon, GA

private nonprofitgraduate

Quick Facts

4,620
Total Students
$41K
Tuition (In-State)
$41K
Tuition (Out-State)
$22K
Avg Net Price
66%
Acceptance Rate
73%
Graduation Rate
6-year
83%
Retention Rate
Doctoral Universities
Classification

Data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) & U.S. Dept. of Education

About Mercer University

Mercer University: Georgia's oldest private research university, innovating in education and service since 1833.

Mercer University stands as Georgia's oldest private university, a vibrant research institution with a rich history dating back to 1833. Classified as an "R2: Doctoral University — High research activity," Mercer is dedicated to fostering academic excellence, groundbreaking research, and community engagement across its multiple campuses in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus. Its comprehensive academic offerings span 12 colleges and schools, catering to over 9,000 students who pursue a wide array of undergraduate and graduate degrees.

From its origins as Mercer Institute in Penfield, the university quickly gained charter status and moved to Macon in 1871, establishing itself as a vital educational hub. Mercer's enduring commitment to service is exemplified by initiatives like the Mercer On Mission project, which gained national recognition from the Clinton Global Initiative University for its innovative work in providing low-cost prosthetics to amputees in developing nations. The university also maintains a distinctive Cooperative Baptist Fellowship affiliation, enriching its theological and musical programs with a deep-rooted heritage.

Academically, Mercer shines with unique strengths, including Georgia's only private engineering school, a highly accredited Stetson-Hatcher School of Business, and a School of Medicine renowned for training primary care physicians for underserved areas of Georgia. The Townsend School of Music, home to the prestigious Robert McDuffie Center for Strings, and the historic School of Law further underscore Mercer's diverse and high-quality educational landscape. Students at Mercer benefit from robust research opportunities, NCAA Division I athletics, and a supportive environment that prepares them for impactful careers and lives of service.

Key Highlights

  • Founded in 1833, Mercer is Georgia's oldest private university.
  • Classified as an "R2: Doctoral University — High research activity."
  • Enrollment exceeds 9,000 students across 12 colleges and schools.
  • Home to Georgia's only private engineering school.
  • School of Medicine ranked 17th nationally for family medicine in 2005.
  • Mercer On Mission recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative University for its innovative low-cost prosthetics.
  • Manages an endowment of $502 million (2022).

Timeline

1833
Founded as Mercer Institute in Penfield, Georgia.
1837
Granted university charter and gained university status.
1871
Relocated its main campus to Macon, Georgia.
1873
Established the School of Law.
1982
Founded the School of Medicine.
1985
Established the School of Engineering.
1994
James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology founded.
2006
Townsend School of Music opened.
2009
Mercer On Mission recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative University.
2012
Established a third School of Medicine campus in Columbus.

Schools & Colleges

6 notable schools within Mercer University

💼

Stetson-Hatcher School of Business

Accredited by the AACSB, offering BBA, MBA, and Executive MBA programs, and hosts Georgia's premier business outreach program, the Mercer University Executive Forum.

⚙️

School of Engineering

The only private engineering school in Georgia, serving as a primary provider of engineers for Robins Air Force Base and recognized for its Mercer On Mission project.

🏫

Townsend School of Music

Housed in a state-of-the-art facility, offering undergraduate and graduate music degrees, and home to the Robert McDuffie Center for Strings.

⚖️

School of Law

Founded in 1873, one of the oldest law schools in the U.S., offering Juris Doctor (JD) and a joint JD/MBA degree.

✝️

James and Carolyn McAfee School of Theology

Affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, it's a national center for Baptist scholarship, hosting the American Baptist Historical Society and the Baptist History and Heritage Society.

🏥

School of Medicine

Partially state-funded and accepts only Georgia residents, dedicated to training primary care physicians for rural and medically underserved areas across its Macon, Savannah, and Columbus campuses.

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