McPherson College vs. Muskingum

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

 McPherson College Muskingum
Location McPherson, KS New Concord, OH
Setting Remote Town Distant Town
Enrollment 788 2,108
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #878
Religious Affiliation Church of Brethren Presbyterian Church (USA) - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website mcpherson.edu muskingum.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 McPherson College Muskingum
Tuition (In State) $34,072 $30,650
Tuition (Out of State) $34,072 $30,650
Room & Board $10,322 $12,550
Avg Net Price $25,490 $20,269
Avg Grant Aid $22,929 $24,325
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

 McPherson College Muskingum
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,209 2,623
Admitted 1,013 2,142
Acceptance Rate 83.8% 81.7%
Enrolled % 23.8% 17.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.42
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 17/22
SAT Range 936/1126 900/1120
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 Muskingum
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Engineering Technology (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

 McPherson College Muskingum
Graduation Rate 46% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,200 $40,100
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $279

Diversity

 McPherson College Muskingum
% Men 0% 6%
% Women 0% 22%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 70% 78%
% Black 10% 5%
% Hispanic 12% 2%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 7%

Students

 McPherson College Muskingum
% In-State 27% 78%
% Out-of-State 69% 22%

Campus

 McPherson College Muskingum
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

  • Muskingum University is larger than than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (2,108 students vs. 788 students)

McPherson College vs. Muskingum Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or Muskingum?

  • McPherson College is 11.2% more expensive to attend than Muskingum for in-state tuition ($34,072.00 vs. $30,650.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 11.2% higher at McPherson College than Muskingum University ($34,072.00 vs. $30,650.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Muskingum University than McPherson College ($20,269 vs. $25,490)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McPherson College are 21.6% lower than costs at Muskingum University ($10,322 vs. $12,550)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at McPherson College than Muskingum University (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Muskingum University students is 6.1% larger than aid received McPherson College ($24,325 vs. $22,929)

McPherson College vs. Muskingum Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Muskingum University (984) is 44 points higher than at McPherson College (940)
  • Incoming Muskingum students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (21) than students at McPherson College (20)
  • Accepted freshman Muskingum students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at McPherson College (3.33)
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (83.8%) than Muskingum (81.7%)

McPherson College vs. Muskingum Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, McPherson College or Muskingum? 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 Muskingum and McPherson College.

  • The graduation rate at Muskingum is higher than McPherson College (54% vs. 46%)
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn on average $4,100 more per year than Muskingum graduates after ten years. ($44,200 vs. $40,100)
  • McPherson College students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Muskingum graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • McPherson College graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Muskingum graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Muskingum students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 66%)

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