Mercer University
Mercer University is a private R2 research university founded in 1833, serving approximately 8,945 students across 12 schools and colleges with campuses in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus, Georgia. It delivers 180+ academic programs from liberal arts to medicine, generating revenue primarily through tuition, research grants, private giving, and auxiliary services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1833
- HeadquartersMacon, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Mercer University does
Mercer University is a private research university founded in 1833 by Georgia Baptists, headquartered in Macon, Georgia, with a 193-year operating history. The university operates four main campuses (Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus) plus two regional academic centers (Henry County, Douglas County) and delivers 180+ academic programs across 12 schools and colleges spanning liberal arts, business, engineering, medicine, law, pharmacy, nursing, theology, music, education, and health professions. It serves approximately 8,945 students drawn from 41 countries, including 4,100+ graduate and professional students, with a $35M annual NSF research funding base and an R2 doctoral research classification (since 2018). Core technology infrastructure consists of standard higher-education systems, primarily the Canvas learning management system, student information systems, and online learning platforms supporting 30+ fully online degree programs.
Revenue is generated through four streams: tuition and fees (the primary source, varying by program level and delivery format), external research grants and contracts, private giving and donations via the Aspire Capital Campaign and The Mercer Fund, and auxiliary services including housing, dining, and athletics. The go-to-market model is hybrid: direct-to-consumer admissions for traditional undergraduates (campus tours, information sessions, webinars), community-led acquisition via Mercer Next transfer pathways with 24+ Georgia technical and community colleges, event-driven recruitment through BEAR Day and ROTC, and enterprise partnerships via EdAssist and the Enterprise Learning Partnership Program. Over 90% of students receive financial aid, with more than $24M in Mercer-funded aid awarded to the 2023 incoming first-year class.
The university holds multiple hard-to-replicate accreditations including Phi Beta Kappa (one of 286 institutions nationally), ABA law school accreditation (first in Georgia), AACSB business accreditation (top 5% globally), and Carnegie Community Engagement Classification. Mercer is consistently ranked as a #40 Best Value nationally by U.S. News & World Report and has been named the No. 1 Military Friendly School for three consecutive years. Key differentiators include undergraduate research opportunities accessible from year one, the Mercer On Mission service-learning and study abroad program, the Mercer Innovation Center for student entrepreneurship, and a School of Medicine mission dedicated to rural and medically underserved Georgia populations across three clinical campuses.
Mercer University firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Mercer University
- Legal name
- Mercer University
- Website
- https://mercer.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1833
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Mercer University is a private R2 research university founded in 1833, serving approximately 8,945 students across 12 schools and colleges with campuses in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus, Georgia. It delivers 180+ academic programs from liberal arts to medicine, generating revenue primarily through tuition, research grants, private giving, and auxiliary services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Mercer University industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)
Keywords
Where Mercer University is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Macon
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
Mercer University business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 12 schools and colleges. Tuition varies by program level and delivery format (residential, online, hybrid).
- Research Funding: External research grants and contracts, including $35M annual NSF research funding, supporting faculty research and graduate education.
- Private Giving and Donations: Philanthropic contributions from alumni, parents, and friends through the Aspire Capital Campaign, The Mercer Fund, endowed funds, planned giving, and leadership gifts supporting students and faculty.
- Auxiliary Services: Housing, dining, athletics events, and other student life services generating revenue alongside educational programs.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Standard undergraduate tuition for residential programs |
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate and professional program tuition |
| Subscription | Annual | Mercer Next transfer pathways |
| Subscription | Annual | Military Alliance Scholarship |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels8 records
Mercer University product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Mercer University is a private research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 12 schools and colleges including liberal arts, business, engineering, law, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, theology, music, education, and health professions. The university offers over 180 academic programs through residential, online, and hybrid delivery formats across campuses in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus, Georgia, supported by Canvas LMS and online learning platforms.
Product overview
Mercer University is a comprehensive private research university offering over 180 academic programs across 12 schools and colleges including the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Engineering, School of Medicine, School of Law, College of Pharmacy, College of Nursing, College of Health Professions, College of Education, School of Theology, School of Music, and College of Professional Advancement. The university delivers education through residential undergraduate programs on its Macon campus, graduate and professional degree programs, online and distance learning options, and flexible programs for working adults at multiple Georgia locations. Specialized offerings include 3D printed medical simulators for rural healthcare training, the Mercer On Mission global service program, BEAR Day undergraduate research showcase, and NCAA Division I athletics. The institution serves approximately 8,945 students with a focus on undergraduate research, community engagement, and preparing graduates for careers in healthcare, business, engineering, law, and public service.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Mercer University Press: Academic publishing arm that has published more than 1,500 books since 1979, focusing on religion, philosophy, Southern history, regional studies and creative writing.
- Mercer On Mission
- Penfield College of Mercer University
Products and services
- Academic Programs Over 180 undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 12 schools and colleges including liberal arts, business, engineering, medicine, law, pharmacy, nursing, and health professions, accessed through Mercer's central program finder.
- Residential Undergraduate Program Traditional four-year residential campus experience on the Macon campus with small class sizes, undergraduate research opportunities, and access to over 165 student organizations.
- Graduate and Professional Programs Advanced degree programs including doctoral, master's, specialist, and graduate certificate programs across all 12 schools and colleges, with over 4,100 students enrolled in graduate study.
- Online and Distance Learning Over 30 fully online undergraduate and graduate programs plus hybrid options, allowing students to complete coursework 100% online or in blended formats with multiple start dates throughout the year.
- Working Adults Degree Programs Over 30 undergraduate programs designed for working adults, offered online and in the evenings at four Georgia locations with flexible completion options for working professionals.
- Mercer On Mission Service-learning and study abroad program that deploys students and faculty globally to address fundamental human needs through humanitarian projects.
- 3D Printed Medical Simulators Low-cost 3D printed medical training simulators including cricothyrotomy trainer and chest tube trainer, designed to improve accessibility for rural and under-resourced medical training programs at a fraction of conventional device costs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 70% of students participate in at least one internship before graduation
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Mercer University
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Mercer University technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Mercer University partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered emerging interest, key implementation, significant, ongoing, core pathway, supporting, longstanding and historical.
- University of Florida's Center for Safety Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologiesemerging interestMercer's low-cost 3D printed medical simulators garnered interest from University of Florida's Center for Safety Simulation & Advanced Learning Technologies for potential adoption and collaboration in simulation training.
- Illumia (Transact + CBORD)key implementationIllumia and Genea partnered to deliver cloud-native access control solutions to higher education, with Mercer University serving as a key initial implementation. Mercer deployed Genea's solution across nearly 4,000 readers and 14,000 mobile credentials spanning 12 facilities across Georgia, with costs spread across three fiscal years.
- Geneakey implementationGenea's cloud-native access control solution was deployed across Mercer's Georgia campuses with nearly 4,000 readers and 14,000 mobile credentials. The partnership emphasizes open architecture, scalability, AI-enhanced 24/7 support, and reuse of existing infrastructure.
- Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC)significantMercer University's College of Professional Advancement partnered with GPSTC to expand training and educational opportunities for public safety personnel and first responders across Georgia. Includes 25% tuition benefit for active first responders including law enforcement, firefighters, EMS personnel, and dispatchers.
- Goodwill of North GeorgiaongoingSeven Mercer strategic communications students created a social media strategy for Goodwill of North Georgia as their fall 2025 capstone project. This marks the fourth partnership between Mercer's integrated communication program and Goodwill of North Georgia.
- Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) institutionscore pathwayMercer Next has partnership agreements with 24+ technical colleges and community colleges across Georgia including Albany Technical College, Athens Technical College, Atlanta Technical College, Augusta Technical College, Central Georgia Technical College, and others creating transfer pathways for students.
- EdAssistsupportingMercer partners with EdAssist, a national tuition assistance network connecting organizations with education providers. Through this partnership, employees of in-network organizations can achieve their educational goals at Mercer.
- Enterprise Learning Partnership Program employerssupportingThe Enterprise Learning Partnership Program provides affordable educational opportunities for employees of partner organizations to enroll in employer-approved programs of study at Mercer.
- Georgia Independent College Association (GICA)supportingSystem-wide partnership agreement with Technical College System of Georgia through GICA for transfer students from TCSG institutions.
- Memorial University Medical Center (Savannah)significantMercer School of Medicine established a four-year MD program at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah in 2008, building on clinical relationships established in 1996.
- The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital (Columbus)significantPartnership to establish Columbus campus for School of Medicine, joining Macon and Savannah campuses.
- Warner Robins Air Logistics Complexlongstanding22-year partnership with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center supporting School of Engineering research and education.
- Georgia Baptist ConventionhistoricalHistorical partnership with Georgia Baptist Convention including merger of Georgia Baptist College of Nursing in 2001 and ongoing theological education through McAfee School of Theology.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Mercer University competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Baylor University: Private Baptist-affiliated research university in Waco, Texas with comparable comprehensive scope (multiple schools/colleges including law, business, engineering, medicine, and theology) and similar institutional mission and student profile. Strongly comparable to Mercer on denominational heritage, comprehensive structure, and Southern footprint.
- Samford University: Private Baptist-affiliated university in Birmingham, Alabama with a similar mix of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs and a comparable Southern regional draw. Smaller than Mercer but closely aligned on denominational heritage and private comprehensive model.
- Belmont University: Private university in Nashville affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, with undergraduate and graduate programs across business, law, music, health sciences, and pharmacy. Comparable to Mercer on Baptist denominational heritage and private comprehensive model, at a smaller scale.
- Furman University: Private liberal arts university in Greenville, South Carolina with selective undergraduate admissions and notable pre-professional advising. Comparable to Mercer on private Southern residential undergraduate mission, though smaller and more selective.
- Tulane University: Private research university in New Orleans with similarly broad scope across liberal arts, business, law, medicine, public health, and engineering. Comparable to Mercer as a Southern private research institution with a multi-school structure, though Tulane carries a stronger national brand and R1 status.
- Stetson University: Private university in DeLand, Florida with comparable strengths in undergraduate liberal arts, law, business, and education. Comparable to Mercer on private comprehensive mission and Southeast regional student draw, at a smaller scale.
- Vanderbilt University: Private research university in Nashville with comprehensive schools (business, law, medicine, engineering, education, divinity). Comparable to Mercer on private research structure and Southern footprint, though significantly larger, R1-classified, and more research-intensive.
- Wake Forest University: Private research university in Winston-Salem, North Carolina with similar undergraduate focus and professional schools (law, business, medicine). Strongly comparable to Mercer on private research model, residential undergraduate base, and graduate/professional extension, though materially better-endowed and more nationally recognized.
- Rollins College: Private liberal arts and professional studies college in Winter Park, Florida with undergraduate and graduate programs in business and education. Comparable to Mercer on private Southeast comprehensive mission, though substantially smaller and primarily undergraduate-focused.
Broad incumbents
- Emory University: Major private research university (R1) located in Atlanta, Georgia, with prestigious medical, law, business, and public health schools. Operates in the same Atlanta metro and competes directly with Mercer's Atlanta graduate/professional campus, but at materially larger scale and brand strength.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Mercer University social profiles
Digital presenceMercer University compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Mercer University financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Mercer University leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
Mercer University subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
Mercer University funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Mercer University M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Mercer University
What does Mercer University do?
Mercer University is a private research university that delivers undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree programs across 12 schools and colleges including liberal arts, business, engineering, law, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, theology, music, education, and health professions. The university offers over 180 academic programs through residential, online, and hybrid delivery formats across campuses in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus, Georgia, supported by Canvas LMS and online learning platforms.
Is Mercer University a public or private company?
Mercer University is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Mercer University founded?
Mercer University was founded in 1833.
Where is Mercer University based?
Mercer University is headquartered in Macon, United States, in the North America region.
How does Mercer University make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are research Funding, private Giving and Donations and auxiliary Services.
Who are Mercer University's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Baylor University, Samford University, Belmont University, Furman University, Tulane University, Stetson University, Vanderbilt University, Wake Forest University and Rollins College. Emory University is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Mercer University have an API?
No public API is recorded for Mercer University.
What industry is Mercer University in?
Mercer University's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHABAA, Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary). Its NAICS code is 611310 and its SIC code is 8200.