Loras College vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare Loras College in Dubuque, IA with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Loras College is larger than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (1,189 students vs. 1,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Loras College is located in Dubuque, IA (Small City setting); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Loras College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Loras College 12:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

Loras College vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Loras College or Mars Hill University? 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 Mars Hill University than Loras College ($18,925 vs. $21,631).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Loras College are 10.3% lower than at Mars Hill University ($11,000 vs. $12,258).
• Loras College is 5.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mars Hill University (about $2,088 more per year; $39,824.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.5% higher at Loras College than at Mars Hill University (about $2,088 more per year; $39,824.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Loras College as at Mars Hill University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 7.7% larger than aid received by Loras College students ($31,066 vs. $28,835).

Loras College vs. Mars Hill University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Loras College or Mars Hill University? 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 Mars Hill University and Loras College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Loras College - Test-free; Mars Hill University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Loras College (3.48).
• Loras College has a higher acceptance rate (99.9%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.6% at Loras College vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

Loras College vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Loras College and Mars Hill University? 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).

• Loras College's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Mars Hill University's (38%).
• Graduates from Loras College earn a median of about $16,900 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mars Hill University and Loras College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Mars Hill University and Loras College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Loras College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 53%)

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.