St. Mary's College vs. Rust College

Comparable Facts

Compare Saint Mary's College in Notre Dame, IN with Rust College in Holly Springs, MS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Saint Mary's College is larger than Rust College based on total student enrollment (1,601 students vs. 467 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Saint Mary's College is located in Notre Dame, IN (Rural Fringe setting); Rust College is in Holly Springs, MS (Distant Town setting).
• Saint Mary's College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rust College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Saint Mary's College 9:1; Rust College 10:1.

St. Mary's College vs. Rust College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, St. Mary's College or Rust College? 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 Rust College than St. Mary's College ($12,037 vs. $27,865).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rust College are 56.4% lower than at Saint Mary's College ($6,217 vs. $14,260).
• Saint Mary's College is 301.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rust College (about $39,965 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $13,265.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 301.3% higher at St. Mary's College than at Rust College (about $39,965 more per year; $53,230.00 vs. $13,265.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Saint Mary's College than at Rust College (100% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's College students is 252.5% larger than aid received by Rust College students ($38,748 vs. $10,993).

St. Mary's College vs. Rust College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, St. Mary's College or Rust College? 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 Rust College and St. Mary's College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Saint Mary's College (1230) is 340 points higher than at Rust College (890).
• Incoming St. Mary's College students have a 11 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 17 at Rust College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 1130/1325; Rust College 440/1339.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Saint Mary's College 26/30; Rust College 17/18.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: St. Mary's College - Test optional; Rust College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's College students have a 1.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at Rust College (2.66).
• St. Mary's College has a higher acceptance rate (76%) than Rust College (48.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 20.1% at St. Mary's College vs. 6.4% at Rust College.

St. Mary's College vs. Rust College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for St. Mary's College and Rust College? 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).

• Saint Mary's College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Rust College's (28%).
• Graduates from Saint Mary's College earn a median of about $26,000 more per year than Rust College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,100 vs. $25,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's College graduates have a $837 lower median loan debt than Rust College graduates ($27,000 vs. $27,837).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's College graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Rust College graduates ($279 vs. $287).
• More St. Mary's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rust College students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 21%)

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.