Defiance College vs. Marshall University

Should I go to Defiance College or Marshall University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Defiance College or Marshall 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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Defiance College vs. Marshall University comparison
Defiance College Marshall University College 3 College 4
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Overview

Defiance College Marshall University
Location Defiance, OH Huntington, WV
Setting Rural Fringe Small City
Enrollment 540 10,691
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #813
Religious Affiliation United Church of Christ - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website defiance.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Defiance College Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $34,556 $7,190
Tuition (Out of State) $34,556 $18,244
Room & Board $10,940 $11,840
Avg Net Price $23,196 $8,756
Avg Grant Aid $24,970 $11,221
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Defiance College Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,722 6,356
Admitted 1,711 6,158
Acceptance Rate 62.9% 96.9%
Enrolled % 8.7% 25.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.68
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/23 19/25
SAT Range 860/1110 930/1150
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2025

Academics

Defiance College Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (26%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Defiance College Marshall University
Graduation Rate 51% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $43,700 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 58% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $279 $239

Diversity

Defiance College Marshall University
% Men 60% 40%
% Women 40% 60%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 80% 84%
% Black 8% 7%
% Hispanic 6% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 2% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Defiance College Marshall University
% In-State 66% 79%
% Out-of-State 31% 20%

Campus

Defiance College Marshall University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Marshall University is larger than than Defiance College based on total student enrollment (10,691 students vs. 540 students)

Defiance College vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Defiance College or Marshall University?

  • Defiance College is 380.6% more expensive to attend than Marshall University for in-state tuition ($34,556.00 vs. $7,190.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 89.4% higher at Defiance College than Marshall University ($34,556.00 vs. $18,244.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than Defiance College ($8,756 vs. $23,196)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Defiance College are 8.2% lower than costs at Marshall University ($10,940 vs. $11,840)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Defiance College than Marshall University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Defiance College students is 122.5% larger than aid received Marshall University ($24,970 vs. $11,221)

Defiance College vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Marshall University (1028) is 44 points higher than at Defiance College (984)
  • Incoming Marshall University students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Defiance College (22)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 0.56 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Defiance College (3.12)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.9%) than Defiance College (62.9%)

Defiance College vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Defiance College or Marshall 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 Marshall University and Defiance College.

  • The graduation rate at Defiance College is higher than Marshall University (51% vs. 44%)
  • Graduates from Defiance College earn on average $3,500 more per year than Marshall University graduates after ten years. ($43,700 vs. $40,200)
  • Marshall University students graduate with a $3,866 lower median federal student loan debt than Defiance College graduates. ($23,134 vs. $27,000)
  • Marshall University graduates are paying $40 less per month on federal student loans than Defiance College graduates. ($239 vs. $279)
  • More Defiance College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Marshall University students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 43%)

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