How to get into Mercer University
How to get into Mercer: a Georgia private with a top-tier engineering program and substantial merit aid
68.9%
Acceptance rate
$42,312
In-state cost
What makes Mercer University admissions different
Mercer University is a private university in Macon, Georgia (with additional campuses in Atlanta and Savannah) — roughly 4,500 undergrads, with established programs in engineering (the School of Engineering on the Macon campus), business (the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business), pre-health, music, and pre-law. Mercer admits around 69% of applicants. The school has a substantial merit-aid pipeline (Stamps Scholarships and named merit awards) and a Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant for Georgia residents that further reduces cost.
What an actually competitive application looks like
- 1.
Apply through the Common App or Mercer's direct application. Early Action is non-binding and gives the earliest decision plus best scholarship consideration.
- 2.
Pick the right college. The School of Engineering, the Townsend School of Music (audition-based), the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the Stetson-Hatcher School of Business each have their own framing.
- 3.
Apply for the Stamps Scholarship if you have the profile. Mercer is one of the partner schools for the Stamps Scholarship (full ride plus enrichment funds for the top tier of admits) and has named Provost and Presidential merit awards beneath it.
- 4.
Georgia residents: confirm Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant eligibility (a state grant for Georgia residents attending eligible Georgia private colleges) and stack it with merit aid.
- 5.
Music applicants: prepare for the Townsend School of Music audition. The audition is the application for music admits.
- 6.
Apply to the Honors Program through the standard application process. Mercer Honors is a four-year track with smaller seminars and dedicated advising.
Common mistakes that hurt applicants here
- ✕
Missing the Stamps deadline. The Stamps Scholarship at Mercer requires a separate application and earlier deadline; missing it forecloses the school's most generous award.
- ✕
Treating Mercer as just a generic Southern private. The engineering school is genuinely strong and the merit-aid pipeline meaningfully changes affordability.
- ✕
Georgia residents not stacking the GTEG with Mercer's merit aid in the cost calculation.
- ✕
Skipping the music audition when applying to the Townsend School.
The specifics for Mercer University
What makes this admissions process distinctive
Stamps Scholarship at Mercer ↗
Mercer is one of approximately 40 partner institutions offering the Stamps Scholarship — a full ride plus a substantial enrichment fund. Requires separate application with earlier deadline.
School of Engineering (Macon campus)
A nationally recognized undergraduate engineering program with ABET-accredited specializations and strong placement into industry and graduate study.
Townsend School of Music
Mercer's music school admits performance students through audition with separate scholarship consideration; the school includes the McDuffie Center for Strings as a distinctive conservatory-within-a-university program.
Notable scholarships at Mercer University
Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant
Georgia residents attending eligible Georgia private colleges (including Mercer) receive an annual state grant that stacks with institutional merit aid.
What graduates actually do
Mercer graduates feed Georgia's healthcare, legal, and business sectors, with the Mercer University School of Medicine producing physicians who disproportionately practice in rural and underserved Georgia communities. The Walter F. George School of Law and the engineering program in Macon are also strong, and the Atlanta-area campuses connect students to corporate Atlanta employers.
Notable alumni
- Sam Nunn — Politics (US Senator from Georgia)
- Otis Redding (attended briefly) — Music
- Griff Whalen — Professional football
- Tee Greer — Athletics
Transfer pathway
Mercer accepts transfers on a rolling basis. The university has articulation with the Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia, including Middle Georgia State, Central Georgia Technical College, and Georgia Highlands College. A 2.5+ GPA is typically required; engineering and nursing transfers face higher selectivity.
Specifics verified 2026-05-18 from the school's own admissions page + Common App. Always confirm current-year details directly on the school site before applying.
If you're on the bubble
If you have a B+ transcript and an interest in engineering, music, pre-health, or pre-law at a mid-size Southern private, Mercer is a likely admit and likely affordable after merit aid (especially for Georgia residents stacking GTEG). The Stamps Scholarship is worth applying for if you have the profile — it's one of the most generous awards available at this tier of school.
Next steps
Last updated: November 2025. Acceptance rate and cost data refreshed nightly from college reporting.