McPherson College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in McPherson, Kansas. It enrolls 872 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Fair
47/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes13
Value19
Affordability44
Selectivity34
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 76.8%, McPherson College is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
76.8%
Easy
SAT Range (25th–75th)
960 – 1200
Reading + Math combined
ACT Range (25th–75th)
18 – 23
Cumulative composite
Test PolicyNot ConsideredStandardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether McPherson College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
31.7 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending McPherson College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $26,441 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$26,441
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
38%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
64%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$37,310
Room & Board (on-campus)
$11,498
Room & Board (off-campus)
$11,898
Books & Supplies
$1,420
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,952
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$10,136
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,611
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$22,587
$30,001 – $48,000
$20,939
$48,001 – $75,000
$28,655
$75,001 – $110,000
$28,737
Over $110,000
$31,043
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$3,50010%percentile
$6,50025%percentile
$25,242Medianpercentile
$26,59675%percentile
$36,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $14,000
↓ $11,242
No Pell $12,500
↓ $12,742
Dependent students $13,750
↓ $11,492
Independent students $14,611
↓ $10,631
Female students $18,500
↓ $6,742
Male students $11,000
↓ $14,242
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $6,500, less than completers ($25,242), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
43% of full-time students who enrolled at McPherson College graduate within six years, and 65% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
43%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
65%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered McPherson College earn a median of $52,084 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$52,084
Earning > $25K
79%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$35,100
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$48,700
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$34,600
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$41,700
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$49,400
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,600, about 28% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
8.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 88% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
McPherson College is home to 872 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 31% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
872
Part-Time
0%
First-Generation
31%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 52.4%457
Hispanic 14.5%126
Black 13.5%118
International 6.0%52
Other 3.9%34
Asian 2.0%17
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at McPherson College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: RemoteMcPherson, Kansas
Housing
Strongly residential729 beds for 872 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
4-1-4 Planscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
McPherson College offers
a varied set of programs:
23 distinct programs across
17 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at McPherson College is 13:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
13:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$745M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$66,408
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
53 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
16
30%
$74,801
Associate Professors
15
28%
$66,466
Assistant Professors
21
40%
$60,964
Lecturers
1
2%
$45,600
Pros & Cons of McPherson College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how McPherson College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Reasonable class sizes
Tight-knit, close community feel
Solid post-graduation earnings
CONS
Above-average net price
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Below-average completion rate
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, McPherson College is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier; students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about McPherson College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about McPherson College.
Is McPherson College hard to get into?
McPherson College has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 76.8%.
What is the acceptance rate at McPherson College?
McPherson College has an acceptance rate of 76.8%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
What SAT score do you need for McPherson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at McPherson College scored between 960 and 1200 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
What ACT score do you need for McPherson College?
The middle 50% of admitted students at McPherson College scored between 18 and 23 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.
How much does McPherson College cost?
The average net price after aid at McPherson College is $26,441 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is McPherson College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $52,084 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $26,441 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is McPherson College known for?
McPherson College is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering Tech, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do McPherson College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering McPherson College are $52,084, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is McPherson College accredited?
Yes. McPherson College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend McPherson College?
McPherson College enrolls 872 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at McPherson College?
McPherson College graduates 43% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is McPherson College a public or private college?
McPherson College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is McPherson College located?
McPherson College is located in McPherson, Kansas.
What programs does McPherson College offer?
McPherson College offers 23 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Mechanical Engineering Tech, Kinesiology.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at McPherson College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at McPherson College is 13:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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