Mercer University

Common Data Set
2005-06

H. FINANCIAL AID

Last Updated: October 20, 2005

Mercer University has several distinct programs for undergraduate degree-seeking students:  1. Our "traditional" program is offered on our main campus in Macon, Georgia; it is a daytime program geared toward traditional age, first-time college students.  2. Mercer offers an evening and weekend continuing education program geared toward adults held at off-campus centers around the state of Georgia.  3. Our branch campus in Atlanta offers upper division undergraduate courses leading to a BBA in business.  4. Our Georgia Baptist College of Nursing offers undergraduate nursing degrees on the Atlanta Campus.   Financial aid varies by program.  The responses in this section are based on our dominate undergraduate program, the Macon campus traditional program.

Aid Awarded | Number Awarded Aid | Aid to Undergraduate International Students
Process for First-Year/Freshman Students | Types of Aid Available

Aid Awarded to Enrolled Undergraduates

CDS H1. Total dollar amounts awarded to enrolled full-time and less than full-time degree-seeking undergraduates.  (See above for cohort used).  Aid awarded to international students (i.e., those not qualifying for federal aid) is included.  Aid that is non-need-based but that was used to meet need is reported in the need-based aid column. 

Academic year for which data are reported:  2005-2006 estimated

Which needs-analysis methodology does Mercer use in awarding institutional aid? 
Federal methodology (FM)

Number of Enrolled Students Awarded Aid

CDS H2. The number of degree-seeking full-time and less-than-full-time undergraduates who applied for and were awarded financial aid from any source. Aid that is non-need-based but that was used to meet need is counted as need-based aid.  Numbers reflect the cohort awarded the dollars reported in H1.  Note:  In the chart below, students may be counted in more than one row, and full-time freshmen are counted as full-time undergraduates.

	First-time Full-time Freshmen	Full-time Undergrad (Including FT Freshmen)	Less Than Full-time Undergrad
a)  Number of degree-seeking undergraduate students (CDS Item B1)	616	2,308	59
b)  Number of students in line a who applied for need-based financial aid	537	1,812	20
c)  Number of students in line b who were determined to have financial need	418	1,488	18
d)  Number of students in line c who were awarded any financial aid	417	1,481	15
e)  Number of students in line d who were awarded any need-based gift aid	417	1,476	12
f)  Number of students in line d who were awarded any need-based self-help aid	240	954	11
g)  Number of students in line d who were awarded any non-need-based scholarship or grant aid	155	438	1
h)  Number of students in line d whose need was fully met (exclude PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans)	240	758	5
i)  On average, the percentage of need that was met of students who were awarded any need-based aid. Exclude any aid that was awarded in excess of need as well as any resources that were awarded to replace EFC (PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans)	93%	91%	66%
j)  The average financial aid package of those in line d. Exclude any resources that were awarded to replace EFC (PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans)	$23,519	$23,102	$12,112
k)  Average need-based scholarship or grant award of those in line e	$15,670	$14,556	$5,660
l)  Average need-based self-help award (excluding PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans) of those in line f	$5,773	$7,328	$6,972
m)  Average need-based loan (excluding PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, and private alternative loans) of those in line f who were awarded a need-based loan	$5,006	$6,668	$6,708
H2A. Number of Enrolled Students Awarded Non-need-based Scholarships and Grants:  Number of degree-seeking full-time and less-than-full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional - not external - non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. Reflect the cohort receiving the dollars reported in H1.
n)  Number of students in line a who had no financial need and who were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid (exclude those who were awarded athletic awards and tuition benefits)	193	764	16
o)  Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based scholarship and grant aid awarded to students in line n	$17,027	$15,854	$6,097
p)  Number of students in line a who were awarded an institutional non-need-based athletic scholarship or grant	31	138	0
q)  Average dollar amount of institutional non-need-based athletic scholarships or grants awarded to students in line p	$13,651	$14,906	$0

CDS H4.  Percent of 2004 undergraduate class who graduated between July 1, 2004 and June 30, 2005 and borrowed at any time through any loan programs while at Mercer (federal, state, subsidized, unsubsidized, private, etc.; exclude parent loans).  62.94%

CDS H5. Average per-borrower cumulative undergraduate indebtedness of those in line H4.   Money borrowed at other institutions not included. 11,075.19

Aid to Undergraduate Degree-seeking Nonresident Aliens (International Students)

CDS H6.Institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid is available for undergraduate degree-seeking nonresident aliens (international students).

Number of undergraduate degree-seeking nonresident aliens who were awarded need-based or non-need-based aid:  
    57
Average dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresident aliens:
$13,695

Total dollar amount of institutional financial aid awarded to undergraduate degree-seeking nonresident aliens
$780,640

Process for First-Year/Freshman Students

CDS H7. Financial aid forms domestic first-year (freshman) financial aid applicants must submit:
    FAFSA
    Institution's own financial aid form
    State aid form (Georgia residents only)    

CDS H8. Financial aid form(s) nonresident alien (international) first-year financial aid applicants must submit:
    Institution's own financial aid form

CDS H9.  Filing dates for first-year (freshman) students:
    Priority date for receipt of required financial aid forms is April 1. 
    No deadline for filing required forms (applications are processed on a rolling basis).

CDS H10.Notification dates for first-year (freshman) students.
    Students are notified on a rolling basis starting approximately March 15.

CDS H11. Reply dates. 
    Students must reply within two weeks of receipt of notification.

Types of Aid Available

CDS H12.Loans

FEDERAL DIRECT STUDENT LOAN PROGRAM (DIRECT LOAN)
    Direct Subsidized Stafford Loans
    Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
    Direct PLUS Loans

OTHER LOANS
   Federal Perkins Loans
   Federal Nursing Loans
   College/university loans from institutional funds

CDS H13.Scholarships and Grants

NEED-BASED:
    Federal Pell   
    Federal SEOG
    State scholarships/grants
    College/university scholarship or grant aid from institutional funds
    Federal Nursing Scholarship
    
CDS H14.  Criteria used in awarding institutional aid.
Non-Need
    Academics
    Art
    Athletics
    Job skills
    ROTC
    Leadership
    Music/drama
    Religious affiliation
    State/district residency
Need-based
    Job skills