Retention and Graduation Rates
The University monitors retention and graduation rates as measure of success of its undergraduate programs.
Graduation Rate
Graduation rates are measured by calculating the percentage of an entering fall cohort that graduates from Mercer within 6 years.
Threshold: 65% (increased from 60% January 2021)
Goal by 2028: 75%
Goal by 2028: 75%
Actual graduation rate for the fall 2018 cohort: 70%
IPEDS 6 Year Graduation Rate for First-Time, Full-Time Students
| Fall 2014 Cohort | Fall 2015 Cohort | Fall 2016 Cohort | Fall 2017 Cohort | Fall 2018 Cohort |
| 73% | 74% | 74% | 74% | 70% |
SACSCOC requires that institutions identify a student completion metric. Mercer has chosen the IPEDS graduation rate metric.
Retention Rate
Threshold: 80%
Goal by 2028: 92%
Actual retention rate for the fall 2023 cohort: 82.16%
Goal by 2028: 92%
Actual retention rate for the fall 2023 cohort: 82.16%
| Fall 2019 Cohort | Fall 2020 Cohort | Fall 2021 Cohort | Fall 2022 Cohort | Fall 2023 Cohort |
| 86.61% | 85.75% | 85.59% | 83.00% | 82.16% |
