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Atlanta, GA · Macon, GA
| Clark Atlanta University | Mercer University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $37,702/yr | $23,847/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $37,356/yr | $19,817/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $27,000 | $24,199 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $39,270/yr | $21,484/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $39,009/yr | $22,533/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $39,514/yr | $25,184/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $38,680/yr | $26,770/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $286/mo | $257/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,748/yr | $15,156/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,748/yr | $15,156/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,900/yr | $1,200/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,312/yr | $2,866/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $43,676/yr | $58,204/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $28,310/yr | $42,312/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $28,310/yr | $42,312/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 70% | 35% |
| Students taking federal loans | 80% | 62% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 64% | 69% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1160–1350 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1271 |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 25–31 |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | No data reported | English 24–33 · Math 23–29 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 27,672 | 11,058 |
| Students accepted | 17,884 | 7,349 |
| Students who enrolled | 1,069 | 1,015 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 6% | 14% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 1% | 32% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 1% | 17% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| Class rank | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 49% | 70% |
| Freshmen who come back | 71% | 82% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $42,712/yr | $58,354/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $22,235–$62,609 | $36,398–$85,903 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 41% | 67% |
| White students graduating | No data reported | 72% |
| Black students graduating | 50% | 64% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 100% | 63% |
| Asian students graduating | No data reported | 72% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $28,097/yr | $50,231/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 64% | 79% |
| Graduate on time | 37% | 61% |
| Pell students who graduate | 47% | 63% |
| First-gen students who finish | 42% | 55% |
| Low-income students who finish | 38% | 52% |
| Students who transfer out | 17% | 16% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $36,146/yr | $53,833/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 25% · Communication & Journalism 15% · Psychology 13% | Health Professions 22% · Business, Management & Marketing 16% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 10% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 25% of degrees | Health Professions — 22% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 15% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 13% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 10% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 11% of degrees | Engineering — 9% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 9% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Public Administration — $44,574/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $119,903/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 10% | 28% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,603 | 4,500 |
| Students per professor | 16 : 1 | 11 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 634 | 4,506 |
| Average professor pay | $8,446/mo | $9,556/mo |
| Full-time professors | 59% | 98% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $28,746 | $43,172 |
| Setting | City (large) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Atlanta, GA | Macon, GA |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1865 | 1833 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity | Doctoral Universities: High Research Activity |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 0.3% | 2.6% |
| Men | 23% | 35% |
| Women | 77% | 65% |
| White students | 0.3% | 41% |
| Black students | 54% | 32% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 1.2% | 9.1% |
| Asian students | 0.1% | 8.4% |
| Two or more races | 5.6% | 4.2% |
| Other / not reported | 39% | 2.8% |
| Special type | HBCU · Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 32% | 28% |
| Part-time students | 2% | 11% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.9% | 23% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $9,940/yr | $14,074/yr |
| Endowment | $116.5M | $481.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,650 | 3,205 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $7,226/yr | $7,152/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $4,792/yr | $7,376/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | No data reported | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | United Methodist | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | Yes |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force | Yes — Army |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II with football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | Yes | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 9 | 18 |
| Student athletes | 257 | 468 |
| Athletic scholarships | $3.1M | $11.5M |
| Athletics budget | $8.1M | $30.6M |
| Athletics revenue | $11.3M | $30.6M |
| Recruiting spend | $7,735 | $696,246 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.