Finance and Financial Management Services at Mercer University

Mercer's finance program lands squarely in the middle of Georgia's offerings—40th percentile statewide—with first-year earnings of $47,956 trailing both the state median ($51,044) and top programs like UGA and Georgia State by $8,000-$20,000. Nationally, the picture is tougher: the program ranks in just the 22nd percentile, meaning nearly 80% of comparable finance programs produce higher-earning graduates. The debt load of $19,500 is reasonable and substantially below both state and national medians, yielding a manageable debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.41, but graduates are paying less to earn less.

The small sample size here—fewer than 30 graduates—adds considerable uncertainty to these figures. A few outliers could swing the numbers significantly in either direction, so these aren't as reliable as data from larger programs. For a selective private university with an average SAT of 1280, this performance is underwhelming compared to Georgia's public alternatives that cost less and deliver stronger outcomes.

For families weighing this program, the core question is whether Mercer's smaller class sizes and private school experience justify both the higher tuition and lower earnings trajectory. If your student can access UGA, Georgia State, or even Kennesaw State, those represent safer financial bets for a finance career. Mercer might work if significant aid brings the actual cost well below that $19,500 median debt figure.