Art Center College of Design vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Art Center College of Design is larger than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (2,308 students vs. 1,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Art Center College of Design is located in Pasadena, CA (Midsize City setting); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Art Center College of Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Art Center College of Design 9:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

Art Center College of Design vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Art Center College of Design or Mars Hill University? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mars Hill University than Art Center College of Design ($18,925 vs. $53,271).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 37.6% lower than at Art Center College of Design ($12,258 vs. $19,632).
• Art Center College of Design is 43.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mars Hill University (about $16,434 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.5% higher at Art Center College of Design than at Mars Hill University (about $16,434 more per year; $54,170.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University than at Art Center College of Design (100% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 38.6% larger than aid received by Art Center College of Design students ($31,066 vs. $22,412).

Art Center College of Design vs. Mars Hill University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Art Center College of Design or Mars Hill University? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Mars Hill University and Art Center College of Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Art Center College of Design - Test-free; Mars Hill University - Test-free.
• Art Center College of Design has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.5% at Art Center College of Design vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

Art Center College of Design vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Art Center College of Design and Mars Hill University? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Art Center College of Design's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Mars Hill University's (38%).
• Graduates from Art Center College of Design earn a median of about $26,000 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,300 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mars Hill University graduates have a $4,250 lower median loan debt than Art Center College of Design graduates ($27,000 vs. $31,250).
• Among borrowers, Mars Hill University graduates have an estimated $44 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Art Center College of Design graduates ($279 vs. $323).
• More Art Center College of Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.