McPherson College vs. College of Saint Mary

Should I go to McPherson College or College of Saint Mary? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if McPherson College or College of Saint Mary 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. College of Saint Mary comparison
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Overview

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
Location McPherson, KS Omaha, NE
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 788 733
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu csm.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
Tuition (In State) $34,072 $23,340
Tuition (Out of State) $34,072 $23,340
Room & Board $10,322 $8,650
Avg Net Price $25,490 $14,265
Avg Grant Aid $22,929 $19,829
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,209 430
Admitted 1,013 189
Acceptance Rate 83.8% 44%
Enrolled % 23.8% 47.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.4
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/24
SAT Range 936/1126
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, 2026

Academics

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (76%)
  • Business (8%)
  • Education (4%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Psychology (2%)

Outcomes

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
Graduation Rate 46% 30%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $41,300
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 59%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $268

Diversity

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
% Men 0% 6%
% Women 0% 28%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 74%
% Black 10% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 13%
% Native American 1% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 2%
% International 4% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 0%

Students

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
% In-State 27% 64%
% Out-of-State 69% 34%

Campus

McPherson College College of Saint Mary
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

  • McPherson College is larger than than College of Saint Mary based on total student enrollment (788 students vs. 733 students)

McPherson College vs. College of Saint Mary Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or College of Saint Mary?

  • McPherson College is 46% more expensive to attend than College of Saint Mary for in-state tuition ($34,072.00 vs. $23,340.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46% higher at McPherson College than College of Saint Mary ($34,072.00 vs. $23,340.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of Saint Mary than McPherson College ($14,265 vs. $25,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of Saint Mary are 19.3% lower than costs at McPherson College ($8,650 vs. $10,322)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College as College of Saint Mary (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 15.6% larger than aid received College of Saint Mary ($22,929 vs. $19,829)

McPherson College vs. College of Saint Mary Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman College of Saint Mary students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than College of Saint Mary (44%)

McPherson College vs. College of Saint Mary Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College or College of Saint Mary? 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 College of Saint Mary and McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at McPherson College is higher than College of Saint Mary (46% vs. 30%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $2,900 more per year than College of Saint Mary graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $41,300)
  • College of Saint Mary and McPherson College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($26,000 vs. $26,000)
  • College of Saint Mary and McPherson College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($268 vs. $268)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former College of Saint Mary students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 59%)

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