Elms College vs. Rust College

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA with Rust College in Holly Springs, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

College of Our Lady of the Elms is larger than Rust College based on total student enrollment (1,268 students vs. 467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rust College is in Holly Springs, MS (Distant Town setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rust College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Rust College 10:1.

Elms College vs. Rust College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Rust College? 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 Rust College than Elms College ($12,037 vs. $19,870).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rust College are 60.2% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($6,217 vs. $15,605).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is 226.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rust College (about $30,060 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $13,265.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 226.6% higher at Elms College than at Rust College (about $30,060 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $13,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Rust College (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 207.4% larger than aid received by Rust College students ($33,794 vs. $10,993).

Elms College vs. Rust College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elms College or Rust College? 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 Rust College and Elms College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 350 points higher than at Rust College (890).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; Rust College 440/1339.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRust College 17/18.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elms College - Test optional; Rust College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Elms College students have a 0.76 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Rust College (2.66).
• Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Rust College (48.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 6.4% at Rust College.

Elms College vs. Rust College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elms College and Rust College? 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).

• College of Our Lady of the Elms's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Rust College's (28%).
• Graduates from College of Our Lady of the Elms earn a median of about $21,200 more per year than Rust College graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,300 vs. $25,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates have a $2,837 lower median loan debt than Rust College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,837).
• Among borrowers, Elms College graduates have an estimated $29 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rust College graduates ($258 vs. $287).
• More Elms College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rust College students, three years after graduation. (61% vs. 21%)

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.