IU vs. Rust College

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN with Rust College in Holly Springs, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Indiana University Bloomington is larger than Rust College based on total student enrollment (48,424 students vs. 467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Rust College is in Holly Springs, MS (Distant Town setting).
• Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Rust College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Rust College 10:1.

IU vs. Rust College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 IU ($12,037 vs. $17,270).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rust College are 55.5% lower than at Indiana University Bloomington ($6,217 vs. $13,984).
• Rust College is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $1,121 more per year; $13,265.00 vs. $12,144.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 215.8% higher at IU than at Rust College (about $28,626 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $13,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rust College than at Indiana University Bloomington (91% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Rust College students is 4.8% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($10,993 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Rust College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Indiana University Bloomington (1290) is 400 points higher than at Rust College (890).
• Incoming IU students have a 13 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 17 at Rust College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Rust College 440/1339.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Rust College 17/18.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Rust College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman IU students have a 1.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.74) than students at Rust College (2.66).
• IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Rust College (48.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 6.4% at Rust College.

IU vs. Rust College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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).

• Indiana University Bloomington's six-year graduation rate (72%) is higher than Rust College's (28%).
• Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $31,100 more per year than Rust College graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $25,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $5,337 lower median loan debt than Rust College graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,837).
• Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rust College graduates ($232 vs. $287).
• More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rust College students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.