Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mars Hill University

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

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
Location Mount Pleasant, IA Mars Hill, NC
Setting Remote Town Rural Fringe
Enrollment 871 1,032
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation United Methodist - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iwc.edu mhc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
Tuition (In State) $33,550 $36,557
Tuition (Out of State) $33,550 $36,557
Room & Board $11,340 $10,004
Avg Net Price $20,074 $17,721
Avg Grant Aid $26,670 $28,916
% Receiving Grant Aid 92% 99%

Admission

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,975 1,597
Admitted 2,404 1,185
Acceptance Rate 80.8% 74.2%
Enrolled % 8% 21.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.02 3.5
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 16/22
SAT Range 830/1010
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Health Professions (14%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Biology (8%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Human Services (7%)

Outcomes

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
Graduation Rate 25% 38%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,900 $32,300
Making Student Loan Payments 55% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
% Men 56% 51%
% Women 44% 49%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 52% 68%
% Black 9% 22%
% Hispanic 6% 3%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 24% 3%

Students

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
% In-State 25% 54%
% Out-of-State 60% 36%

Campus

Iowa Wesleyan College Mars Hill University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Mars Hill University is larger than than Iowa Wesleyan College based on total student enrollment (1,032 students vs. 871 students)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Iowa Wesleyan College or Mars Hill University?

  • Mars Hill University is 9% more expensive to attend than Iowa Wesleyan College for in-state tuition ($36,557.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9% higher at Mars Hill University than Iowa Wesleyan College ($36,557.00 vs. $33,550.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mars Hill University than Iowa Wesleyan College ($17,721 vs. $20,074)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 13.4% lower than costs at Iowa Wesleyan College ($10,004 vs. $11,340)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Mars Hill University than Iowa Wesleyan College (99% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 8.4% larger than aid received Iowa Wesleyan College ($28,916 vs. $26,670)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mars Hill University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Iowa Wesleyan College (949) is 37 points higher than at Mars Hill University (912)
  • Incoming Iowa Wesleyan College students have at the same average ACT score (20) as students at Mars Hill University (20)
  • Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.48 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Iowa Wesleyan College (3.02)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Mars Hill University (74.2%)

Iowa Wesleyan College vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Iowa Wesleyan College or Mars Hill 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 Mars Hill University and Iowa Wesleyan College.

  • The graduation rate at Mars Hill University is higher than Iowa Wesleyan College (38% vs. 25%)
  • Graduates from Iowa Wesleyan College earn on average $4,600 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates after ten years. ($36,900 vs. $32,300)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Mars Hill University graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Mars Hill University graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Iowa Wesleyan College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (55% vs. 53%)

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