Livingstone College vs. Marshall University

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

 Livingstone College Marshall University
Location Salisbury, NC Huntington, WV
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 814 11,027
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #825
Religious Affiliation African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website livingstone.edu marshall.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Livingstone College Marshall University
Tuition (In State) $15,917 $7,372
Tuition (Out of State) $15,917 $18,724
Room & Board $6,794 $12,852
Avg Net Price $15,162 $9,734
Avg Grant Aid $13,065 $12,024
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 96%

Admission

 Livingstone College Marshall University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,748 6,499
Admitted 3,518 6,269
Acceptance Rate 74.1% 96.5%
Enrolled % 7.6% 27.7%
Avg High School GPA 2.64 3.68
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 14/21 18/24
SAT Range 800/960 890/1130
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 10, 2026

Academics

 Livingstone College Marshall University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (19%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Human Services (13%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Business (15%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

 Livingstone College Marshall University
Graduation Rate 28% 44%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $24,200 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 13% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $42,000 $23,134
Median Loan Payment $434 $239

Diversity

 Livingstone College Marshall University
% Men 1% 9%
% Women 1% 17%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 84%
% Black 81% 7%
% Hispanic 1% 2%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 17% 1%

Students

 Livingstone College Marshall University
% In-State 49% 78%
% Out-of-State 48% 22%

Campus

 Livingstone College Marshall University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes 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 Livingstone College based on total student enrollment (11,027 students vs. 814 students)

Livingstone College vs. Marshall University Cost Comparison

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

  • Livingstone College is 115.9% more expensive to attend than Marshall University for in-state tuition ($15,917.00 vs. $7,372.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.6% higher at Marshall University than Livingstone College ($18,724.00 vs. $15,917.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Marshall University than Livingstone College ($9,734 vs. $15,162)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Livingstone College are 89.2% lower than costs at Marshall University ($6,794 vs. $12,852)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Livingstone College than Marshall University (100% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Livingstone College students is 8.7% larger than aid received Marshall University ($13,065 vs. $12,024)

Livingstone College vs. Marshall University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Marshall University (1028) is 320 points higher than at Livingstone College (708)
  • Incoming Marshall University students have a 9 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at Livingstone College (14)
  • Accepted freshman Marshall University students have a 1.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.68) than students at Livingstone College (2.64)
  • Marshall University has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Livingstone College (74.1%)

Livingstone College vs. Marshall University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Livingstone 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 Livingstone College.

  • The graduation rate at Marshall University is higher than Livingstone College (44% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Marshall University earn on average $16,000 more per year than Livingstone College graduates after ten years. ($40,200 vs. $24,200)
  • Marshall University students graduate with a $18,866 lower median federal student loan debt than Livingstone College graduates. ($23,134 vs. $42,000)
  • Marshall University graduates are paying $195 less per month on federal student loans than Livingstone College graduates. ($239 vs. $434)
  • More Marshall University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Livingstone College students, three years after graduation. (43% vs. 13%)

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