Marian vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare Marian University in Indianapolis, IN with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Marian University is larger than Mars Hill University based on total student enrollment (3,486 students vs. 1,110 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Marian University is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Marian University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Marian University 13:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

Marian vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Marian 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 Marian ($18,925 vs. $22,786).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 11.5% lower than at Marian University ($12,258 vs. $13,850).
• Marian University is 7.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mars Hill University (about $2,928 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at Marian than at Mars Hill University (about $2,928 more per year; $40,664.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University than at Marian University (100% vs. 97%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Marian University students is 4.1% larger than aid received by Mars Hill University students ($32,351 vs. $31,066).

Marian vs. Mars Hill University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Marian 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 Marian.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Marian - Test-free; Mars Hill University - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Marian Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Marian students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Mars Hill University (3.5).
• Marian has a higher acceptance rate (95.5%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.6% at Marian vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

Marian vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Marian 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).

• Marian University's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Mars Hill University's (38%).
• Graduates from Marian University earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,800 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Mars Hill University and Marian graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Mars Hill University and Marian graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Marian graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.