Mercer University is a private research university with its main campus in Macon, Georgia. Founded in 1833 as Mercer Institute and gaining university status in 1837, it is the oldest private university in the state and enrolls more than 9,000 students in 12 colleges and schools: liberal arts and sciences, business, engineering, education, music, college of professional advancement, law, theology, medicine, pharmacy, nursing, and health professions. Mercer is a member of the Georgia Research Alliance and has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation's oldest collegiate honors society. Mercer has four major campuses: the historic (main) campus in Macon, a graduate and professional campus in Atlanta, and four-year campuses of the School of Medicine in Savannah and Columbus. Mercer also has regional academic centers in Henry County and Douglas County; the Mercer University School of Law on its own campus in Macon; teaching hospitals in Macon, Savannah, and Columbus; a university press and a performing arts center, the Grand Opera House, in Macon; and the Mercer Engineering Research Center in Warner Robins. The Mercer University Health Sciences Center encompasses Mercer's medical, pharmacy, nursing, and health professions programs in Macon, Atlanta, Savannah, and Columbus. U.S. News & World Report has ranked Mercer among the top two private universities in Georgia for approximately 25 years. Overall, U.S. News & World Report (2021 edition) ranks Mercer 160th among the 389 National Universities, 49th in terms of undergraduate teaching; and 35th best value in terms of education relative to cost; Mercer is the 6th highest ranked private research University in the South. Mercer has been cited by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching for its community engagement and was among the 113 institutions listed on the 2015 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction. Princeton Review has ranked Mercer as one of the best colleges in the nation for 18 years. Mercer is classified as a "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity". Mercer University alumni include 21 United States Representatives, 12 Governors, four United States Senators, two Pulitzer Prize winners, two Rhodes Scholars and a U.S. Attorney General. Mercer has an NCAA Division I athletic program and fields teams in eight men's and ten women's sports; all university-sponsored sports compete in the Southern Conference except women's sand volleyball, which is not sponsored by the SoCon, and thus competes in the ASUN Conference. History Founding and early years (1833–1959)