Mercer was founded in 1833 in Penfield and now has more than 8,600 students on campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah, and at regional academic centers in Henry County, Newnan and Douglas County.

The 300-acre Atlanta campus, just inside the northeast Perimeter, is a vital and growing part of Mercer, which has been part of Atlanta’s academic community since 1960. Atlanta degree programs focus primarily on graduate, professional and doctoral studies in pharmacy and health sciences, nursing, theology, business and economics, and education, as well as graduate and undergraduate programs for working adults.

Mercer's undergraduate liberal arts, business, music and educations programs, as well as law and engineering schools, are located in Macon. The School of Medicine offers programs in Macon, Savannah, Columbus and Atlanta.