McPherson College vs. Pitt State

Deciding between McPherson College and Pittsburg State University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Pittsburg State University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • McPherson College McPherson, KS
  • Pitt State Pittsburg, KS
  • Setting
  • McPherson College Remote Town
  • Pitt State Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • McPherson College 878
  • Pitt State 5,755
  • Type
  • McPherson College Private 4 Year
  • Pitt State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • McPherson College
  • Pitt State
  • Religious Affiliation
  • McPherson College Church of Brethren
  • Pitt State -
  • Status
  • McPherson College Non-profit
  • Pitt State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • McPherson College
  • Pitt State
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • McPherson College $37,310
  • Pitt State $8,400
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • McPherson College $37,310
  • Pitt State $19,744
  • Room & Board
  • McPherson College $11,498
  • Pitt State $10,234
  • Average Net Price
  • McPherson College $27,110
  • Pitt State $15,111
  • Average Grant Aid
  • McPherson College $23,513
  • Pitt State $6,504
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • McPherson College 100%
  • Pitt State 78%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • McPherson College 1,846
  • Pitt State 3,138
  • Admitted
  • McPherson College 1,417
  • Pitt State 2,806
  • Acceptance Rate
  • McPherson College 76.8%
  • Pitt State 89.4%
  • Enrolled
  • McPherson College 22.4%
  • Pitt State 31.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • McPherson College 1080
  • Pitt State
  • Typical ACT score
  • McPherson College 20
  • Pitt State
  • Average High School GPA
  • McPherson College 3.33
  • Pitt State 3.4
  • Typical High School Grades
  • McPherson College B+
  • Pitt State B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • McPherson College Very Easy
  • Pitt State Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • McPherson College
  • Pitt State
  • ACT Range
  • McPherson College 18/23
  • Pitt State
  • SAT Range
  • McPherson College 960/1200
  • Pitt State
  • Submit Test Scores
  • McPherson College Test optional
  • Pitt State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • McPherson College Aug 1, 2027
  • Pitt State
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • McPherson College 16:1
  • Pitt State 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • McPherson College
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering Technology (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Education (8%)
  • Pitt State
    • Education (20%)
    • Business (19%)
    • Engineering Technology (14%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • McPherson College 46%
  • Pitt State 49%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • McPherson College $44,200
  • Pitt State $43,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • McPherson College 67%
  • Pitt State 61%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • McPherson College $26,000
  • Pitt State $20,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • McPherson College $268
  • Pitt State $206
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • McPherson College 67%
  • Pitt State 47%
  • % Women
  • McPherson College 33%
  • Pitt State 53%
  • Racial Diversity
  • McPherson College Medium
  • Pitt State Low
  • HBCU
  • McPherson College No
  • Pitt State No
  • % White
  • McPherson College 70%
  • Pitt State 79%
  • % Asian
  • McPherson College 1%
  • Pitt State 1%
  • % Black
  • McPherson College 10%
  • Pitt State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • McPherson College 12%
  • Pitt State 5%
  • % Native American
  • McPherson College 1%
  • Pitt State 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • McPherson College 0%
  • Pitt State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • McPherson College 2%
  • Pitt State 6%
  • % International
  • McPherson College 4%
  • Pitt State 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • McPherson College 0%
  • Pitt State 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • McPherson College 26%
  • Pitt State 63%
  • % Out-of-State
  • McPherson College 70%
  • Pitt State 37%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • McPherson College Yes
  • Pitt State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • McPherson College No
  • Pitt State No
  • Meal Plan
  • McPherson College Yes
  • Pitt State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • McPherson College Yes
  • Pitt State No
  • Daycare Facility
  • McPherson College No
  • Pitt State No

Comparable Facts

Compare McPherson College in McPherson, KS with Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pittsburg State University is larger than McPherson College based on total student enrollment (5,755 students vs. 878 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • McPherson College is located in McPherson, KS (Remote Town setting); Pittsburg State University is in Pittsburg, KS (Distant Town setting).
  • McPherson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pittsburg State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: McPherson College 16:1; Pittsburg State University 14:1.

McPherson College vs. Pitt State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McPherson College or Pitt State? 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 Pittsburg State University than McPherson College ($15,111 vs. $27,110).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pittsburg State University are 11% lower than at McPherson College ($10,234 vs. $11,498).
  • McPherson College is 344.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Pitt State (about $28,910 more per year; $37,310.00 vs. $8,400.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 89% higher at McPherson College than at Pittsburg State University (about $17,566 more per year; $37,310.00 vs. $19,744.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at McPherson College than at Pittsburg State University (100% vs. 78%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by McPherson College students is 261.5% larger than aid received by Pittsburg State University students ($23,513 vs. $6,504).

McPherson College vs. Pitt State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McPherson College or Pitt State? 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 Pitt State and McPherson College.

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: McPherson College 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: McPherson College 18/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McPherson College - Test optional; Pitt State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: McPherson College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Pitt State students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at McPherson College (3.33).
  • Pitt State has a higher acceptance rate (89.4%) than McPherson College (76.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.4% at McPherson College vs. 31.9% at Pitt State.

McPherson College vs. Pitt State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McPherson College and Pitt State? 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).

  • Pittsburg State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than McPherson College's (46%).
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn a median of about $600 more per year than Pitt State graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $43,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Pittsburg State University graduates have a $6,000 lower median loan debt than McPherson College graduates ($20,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Pitt State graduates have an estimated $62 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than McPherson College graduates ($206 vs. $268).
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Pitt State students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 61%)

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.