Eastern vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond, KY with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Eastern Kentucky University is larger than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (15,673 students vs. 1,110 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Kentucky University is located in Richmond, KY (Distant Town setting); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Eastern Kentucky University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Kentucky University 17:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 0.1% lower than at Eastern Kentucky University ($12,258 vs. $12,268).
• Out-of-state tuition is 77.7% higher at Mars Hill University than at Eastern Kentucky University (about $16,506 more per year; $37,736 vs. $21,230).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University than at Eastern Kentucky University (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 170.9% larger than aid received by Eastern Kentucky University students ($31,066 vs. $11,468).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test optional at Eastern, test-free at Mars Hill University.
• Typical fall application deadline: Eastern Aug 1, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Mars Hill University average a 3.5 high school GPA, 0.11 higher than at Eastern (3.39).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.9% at Eastern vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Kentucky University graduates have a $3,305 lower median loan debt than Mars Hill University graduates ($23,695 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Eastern graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mars Hill University graduates ($245 vs. $279).
• More Mars Hill University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern students, three years after graduation (53% vs. 49%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.