Mars Hill University vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design

Comparable Facts

Compare Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC with Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mars Hill University is larger than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (1,110 students vs. 414 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mars Hill University is located in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
• Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mars Hill University 11:1; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design 10:1.

Mars Hill University vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mars Hill University or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($18,925 vs. $28,826).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 28.9% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design ($12,258 vs. $17,230).
• Mars Hill University is 17.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $5,586 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 17.4% higher at Mars Hill University than at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (about $5,586 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $32,150.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University as at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 107.3% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Art and Design students ($31,066 vs. $14,989).

Mars Hill University vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mars Hill University or Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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 Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Mars Hill University.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mars Hill University - Test-free; Pennsylvania College of Art and Design - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design (3.13).
• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.1% at Mars Hill University vs. 32.5% at Pennsylvania College of Art and Design.

Mars Hill University vs. Pennsylvania College of Art and Design Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mars Hill University and Pennsylvania College of Art and Design? 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).

• Pennsylvania College of Art and Design's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Mars Hill University's (38%).
• Graduates from Mars Hill University earn a median of about $3,600 more per year than Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,300 vs. $28,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Mars Hill University graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Pennsylvania College of Art and Design and Mars Hill University graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Pennsylvania College of Art and Design graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.