Paul Smith's College vs. Mars Hill University

Comparable Facts

Compare Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY with Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mars Hill University is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (1,110 students vs. 948 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is located in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting); Mars Hill University is in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting).
• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1; Mars Hill University 11:1.

Paul Smith's College vs. Mars Hill University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paul Smith's College or Mars Hill University? 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 Paul Smith's College ($18,925 vs. $28,443).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 13.9% lower than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science ($12,258 vs. $14,236).
• Mars Hill University is 14.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paul Smith's College (about $4,727 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.3% higher at Mars Hill University than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $4,727 more per year; $37,736.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science as at Mars Hill University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 35.2% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($31,066 vs. $22,973).

Paul Smith's College vs. Mars Hill University Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paul Smith's College or Mars Hill University? 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 Mars Hill University and Paul Smith's College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Paul Smith's College - Test-free; Mars Hill University - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman Mars Hill University students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Paul Smith's College (2.8).
• Paul Smith's College has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than Mars Hill University (67.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Paul Smith's College vs. 31.1% at Mars Hill University.

Paul Smith's College vs. Mars Hill University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paul Smith's College and Mars Hill University? 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).

• Mars Hill University's six-year graduation rate (38%) is higher than Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's (37%).
• Graduates from Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Mars Hill University graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $32,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Mars Hill University graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Paul Smith's College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Mars Hill University graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Paul Smith's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (70% 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.