Mercer University

According to the school, Mercer University is the second-largest private university in Georgia with more than 8,000 students studying in 11 schools and colleges on campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah and at Regional Academic Centers in suburban Atlanta and in Eastman. Mercer is one of the nation’s very few universities that successfully combines the intimate environment and personal attention of a small liberal arts college with the academic resources of a major research university. Recently celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding, Mercer operates one of only two engineering schools in the state of Georgia, one of only three pharmacy schools, one of only four medical schools, and one of only five law schools. It also offers nationally-regarded programs in liberal arts, business, music, education, and theology. In addition, Mercer has one of the more prominent university presses in the country, operates an engineering research center in Warner Robins, and is the only private university in the state to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. More Georgians are educated at Mercer than at any other private university in the world. Central to the Mercer experience is an education that uniquely prepares students to lead virtuous, meaningful and responsible lives and encourages a thoughtful examination of ethical and moral choices. Mercer’s emphasis on service has produced hundreds of public servants, including former U.S. Attorney General Griffin B. Bell; legendary U.S. Rep. Carl Vinson; and Judge M. Yvette Miller, the first African-American woman to be selected as chief judge of the Georgia Court of Appeals. Ten Mercerians have served as governors — of the states of Alabama, Georgia, New Hampshire and Texas and of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and three alumni have served as U.S. Senators, including the legendary Walter F. George. Hundreds more have served as mayors, U.S. Representatives and state legislators. Mercer consistently earns national recognition for its involvement in Georgia communities. For the second consecutive year, the University has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Mercer is one of only two Georgia institutions to be included in the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching’s Community Engagement Classification. Mercer is an emerging research university with more than 150 Ph.D. students and nearly $25 million in externally funded research expenditures last year. Two of Mercer’s scientists were recognized last year as eminent cancer scientists by the Georgia Cancer Coalition. A number of other Mercer scientists are collaborating with other Georgia research scientists who are funded by the Georgia Research Alliance.