California College of the Arts vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare California College of the Arts in San Francisco, CA with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

California College of the Arts is larger than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (1,308 students vs. 1,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• California College of the Arts is located in San Francisco, CA (Large City setting); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• California College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: California College of the Arts 8:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

California College of the Arts vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts ($18,925 vs. $46,823).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 44.5% lower than at California College of the Arts ($12,258 vs. $22,099).
• California College of the Arts is 59.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mars Hill University (about $22,490 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 59.6% higher at California College of the Arts than at Mars Hill University (about $22,490 more per year; $60,226.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University than at California College of the Arts (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by California College of the Arts students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Mars Hill University students ($32,953 vs. $31,066).

California College of the Arts vs. Mars Hill University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, California College of the Arts 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 California College of the Arts.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: California College of the Arts - Test-free; Mars Hill University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at California College of the Arts (3.34).
• California College of the Arts has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8% at California College of the Arts vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

California College of the Arts vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for California College of the Arts 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).

• California College of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Mars Hill University's (38%).
• Graduates from California College of the Arts earn a median of about $11,200 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($43,500 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mars Hill University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than California College of the Arts graduates ($27,000 vs. $28,000).
• Among borrowers, Mars Hill University graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than California College of the Arts graduates ($279 vs. $289).
• More California College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.