For the 2022-23 academic year, Mercer University raised tuition by 2.5%, as revealed in the most recent report, according to the latest disclosure from the National Center for Education Statistics.
This year, students paid $39,708 to attend the private, four-year nonprofit institution, an increase of $962 from the $38,746 charged in the 2021-22 academic year.
Approximately 86% of Mercer’s undergraduate students are residents of Georgia, while about 13% come from other U.S. states, and 2% are international students.
Data indicates that all full-time undergraduates who enrolled at Mercer University in 2022-23 received some form of student financial aid. A total of 896 students were awarded grants or scholarships amounting to $29 million, and 540 students borrowed more than $4.7 million in student loans.
Across the entire undergraduate population, 4,360 students received grants or scholarships totaling $107.7 million. Additionally, 2,964 students took out federal student loans amounting to $22 million.
Undergraduate education costs have seen a significant increase over the past few decades. Data shows a 169% rise in the average total cost, including tuition, fees, room, and board, between 1980 and 2020.
According to a 2023 College Board report, in-state students at public universities paid an average of $11,260, while out-of-state students paid $29,150 in the 2023-24 academic year.
Meanwhile, student loan debt has steadily increased over the last 30 years, reaching $1.75 trillion in 2024, averaging a total of $28,950 per borrower. Federal loans make up 92% of the debt, with over half of students at both public and private four-year colleges graduating with student loans.
Available data sometimes exceeds 100% due to rounding and administrative calculations.
| Type of Aid | Number of students awarded aid | Percent awarded aid | Total amount of aid awarded | Average amount of aid per student |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal grants | 267 | 30% | $2 million | $7,540 |
| State / local grant or scholarship | 755 | 84% | $4.5 million | $5,940 |
| Institutional grants or scholarships | 881 | 98% | $22.5 million | $25,578 |
| Grant or scholarship aid total | 896 | 100% | $29 million | $32,402 |
| Federal student loans | 489 | 55% | $2.7 million | $5,514 |
| Other student loans | 250 | 28% | $2 million | $7,919 |
| Student loan aid | 540 | 60% | $4.7 million | $8,660 |
| Total student aid | 897 | 100% | $33.7 million | $37,578 |
