McPherson College vs. Carson-Newman College

Should I go to McPherson College or Carson Newman College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if McPherson College or Carson-Newman College 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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McPherson College vs. Carson Newman College comparison
McPherson College Carson Newman College College 3 College 4
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Overview

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
Location McPherson, KS Jefferson City, TN
Setting Remote Town Small Suburban
Enrollment 788 2,735
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #781
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu cn.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
Tuition (In State) $34,072 $32,900
Tuition (Out of State) $34,072 $32,900
Room & Board $10,322 $10,507
Avg Net Price $25,490 $19,755
Avg Grant Aid $22,929 $26,472
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,209 2,991
Admitted 1,013 2,042
Acceptance Rate 83.8% 68.3%
Enrolled % 23.8% 18%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.6
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24 19/25
SAT Range 936/1126 940/1130
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Health Professions (19%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (5%)

Outcomes

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
Graduation Rate 46% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $41,700
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $23,880
Median Loan Payment $268 $246

Diversity

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
% Men 0% 9%
% Women 0% 30%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 83%
% Black 10% 8%
% Hispanic 12% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
% In-State 27% 72%
% Out-of-State 69% 24%

Campus

 McPherson College Carson-Newman College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Carson Newman College is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (2,735 students vs. 788 students)

McPherson College vs. Carson-Newman College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or Carson-Newman College?

  • McPherson College is 3.6% more expensive to attend than Carson-Newman College for in-state tuition ($34,072.00 vs. $32,900.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.6% higher at McPherson College than Carson Newman College ($34,072.00 vs. $32,900.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Carson Newman College than McPherson College ($19,755 vs. $25,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McPherson College are 1.8% lower than costs at Carson Newman College ($10,322 vs. $10,507)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College as Carson Newman College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Carson Newman College students is 15.5% larger than aid received McPherson College ($26,472 vs. $22,929)

McPherson College vs. Carson-Newman College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Carson Newman College (1039) is 99 points higher than at McPherson College (940)
  • Incoming Carson-Newman College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (23) than students at McPherson College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Carson-Newman College students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.6) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than Carson-Newman College (68.3%)

McPherson College vs. Carson-Newman College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College or Carson-Newman College? 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 Carson-Newman College and McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at McPherson College is higher than Carson Newman College (46% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $2,500 more per year than Carson-Newman College graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $41,700)
  • Carson Newman College students graduate with a $2,120 lower median federal student loan debt than McPherson College graduates. ($23,880 vs. $26,000)
  • Carson-Newman College graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than McPherson College graduates. ($246 vs. $268)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Carson-Newman College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 65%)

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