Alabama State vs. Mars Hill University

Should I go to Alabama State University or Mars Hill University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Alabama State or Mars Hill University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Alabama State University vs. Mars Hill University comparison
Alabama State University Mars Hill University College 3 College 4
Alabama State University Mars Hill University
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Overview

Alabama State Mars Hill University
Location Montgomery, AL Mars Hill, NC
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 3,828 1,032
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #1016
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website alasu.edu mhc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Alabama State Mars Hill University
Tuition (In State) $8,328 $36,557
Tuition (Out of State) $16,656 $36,557
Room & Board $6,050 $10,004
Avg Net Price $13,176 $17,721
Avg Grant Aid $10,029 $28,916
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

Alabama State Mars Hill University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,731 1,597
Admitted 6,502 1,185
Acceptance Rate 96.6% 74.2%
Enrolled % 14.5% 21.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.95 3.5
Typical High School Grades B- B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/20
SAT Range 828/1041
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jul 31, 2025

Academics

Alabama State Mars Hill University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Education (18%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Psychology (8%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)

Outcomes

Alabama State Mars Hill University
Graduation Rate 26% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $29,500 $32,300
Making Student Loan Payments 20% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $32,091 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $331 $279

Diversity

Alabama State Mars Hill University
% Men 35% 51%
% Women 65% 49%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 2% 68%
% Black 93% 22%
% Hispanic 1% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 2% 0%
% Unknown Race 1% 3%

Students

Alabama State Mars Hill University
% In-State 37% 54%
% Out-of-State 62% 36%

Campus

Alabama State Mars Hill University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Alabama State University is larger than than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (3,828 students vs. 1,032 students)

Alabama State vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Alabama State or Mars Hill University?

  • Mars Hill University is 339% more expensive to attend than Alabama State for in-state tuition ($36,557.00 vs. $8,328.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 119.5% higher at Mars Hill University than Alabama State University ($36,557.00 vs. $16,656.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Alabama State University than Mars Hill University ($13,176 vs. $17,721)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Alabama State University are 65.4% lower than costs at Mars Hill University ($6,050 vs. $10,004)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mars Hill University than Alabama State University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 188.3% larger than aid received Alabama State University ($28,916 vs. $10,029)

Alabama State vs. Mars Hill University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Alabama State or Mars Hill University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mars Hill University or Alabama State .

  • The average SAT score at Mars Hill University (912) is 68 points higher than at Alabama State (844)
  • Incoming Mars Hill University students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (20) than students at Alabama State (18)
  • Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.55 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Alabama State (2.95)
  • Alabama State has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than Mars Hill University (74.2%)

Alabama State vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Alabama State or Mars Hill University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Mars Hill University and Alabama State.

  • The graduation rate at Mars Hill University is higher than Alabama State University (38% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Mars Hill University earn on average $2,800 more per year than Alabama State graduates after ten years. ($32,300 vs. $29,500)
  • Mars Hill University students graduate with a $5,091 lower median federal student loan debt than Alabama State graduates. ($27,000 vs. $32,091)
  • Mars Hill University graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Alabama State graduates. ($279 vs. $331)
  • More Mars Hill University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama State students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 20%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/