Rust College is a private nonprofit institution offering bachelor's degrees based in Holly Springs, Mississippi. It enrolls 467 students (a very small, intimate 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.
AccreditorSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
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.
Good
63/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes9
Value45
Affordability91
Selectivity84
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 48.7%, Rust College is a selective institution.
Acceptance Rate
48.7%
Selective
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Rust College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
15.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Rust 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 $12,587 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$12,587
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
71%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
70%
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
$13,265
Room & Board (on-campus)
$6,217
Room & Board (off-campus)
$4,400
Books & Supplies
$1,150
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,850
Total Cost of Attendance
$23,107
Application fee: $10 (one-time, due at submission)
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
$12,546
$30,001 – $48,000
$9,481
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,878
$75,001 – $110,000
$8,797
Over $110,000
$18,356
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.
$2,75010%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$26,159Medianpercentile
$26,00075%percentile
$34,50090%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 $13,860
↓ $12,299
No Pell $11,500
↓ $14,659
Dependent students $12,394
↓ $13,765
Independent students $18,424
↓ $7,735
Female students $15,100
↓ $11,059
Male students $12,000
↓ $14,159
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,979, less than completers ($26,159), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
29% of full-time students who enrolled at Rust College graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
29%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
66%
Returning for their second year
What this means:
Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Rust College earn a median of $32,275 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$32,275
Earning > $25K
54%
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
$25,500
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$28,600
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
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 ↑
17.3 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Concerning. Only 47% of graduates are actively reducing principal even seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Rust College is home to 467 students, an intimate, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 46% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
467
Part-Time
10%
First-Generation
46%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
Black 91.7%428
International 3.6%17
Hispanic 1.9%9
White 0.6%3
Asian 0.4%2
Other 0.2%1
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Rust College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Town: DistantHolly Springs, Mississippi
Housing
Strongly residential800 beds for 467 students
Adult Learners
21%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Historically Black College / University (HBCU)
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Rust College offers
a varied set of programs:
14 distinct programs across
11 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 Rust College is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$74M
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$46,722
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
34 instructional faculty across 3 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
Associate Professors
7
21%
$55,173
Assistant Professors
18
53%
$45,118
Instructors
9
26%
$42,418
Pros & Cons of Rust College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Rust College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Below-average post-graduation earnings
Best for:
Based on the data, Rust College is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rust College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Rust College.
Is Rust College hard to get into?
Rust College is selective but not extremely competitive. Its acceptance rate is 48.7%. Strong academic credentials and a thoughtful application materially improve your odds.
What is the acceptance rate at Rust College?
Rust College has an acceptance rate of 48.7%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Rust College cost?
The average net price after aid at Rust College is $12,587 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Rust College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $32,275 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,587 per year. That's roughly 2.6x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Rust College known for?
Rust College is best known for its programs in Biology, Business Administration, Journalism. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Rust College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Rust College are $32,275, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Rust College accredited?
Yes. Rust College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Rust College?
Rust College enrolls 467 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Rust College?
Rust College graduates 29% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Rust College a public or private college?
Rust College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Rust College located?
Rust College is located in Holly Springs, Mississippi.
What programs does Rust College offer?
Rust College offers 14 distinct programs. The most popular include Biology, Business Administration, Journalism.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Rust College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Rust College is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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