Mars Hill University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Mars Hill, North Carolina. It enrolls 1,044 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.
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
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes21
Value30
Affordability65
Selectivity65
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 67.9%, Mars Hill University is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
67.9%
Moderate
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 Mars Hill University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
14.6 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Mars Hill University 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 $19,910 per year. That's below the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$19,910
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
46%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
62%
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
$37,736
Room & Board (on-campus)
$12,258
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,258
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$3,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$4,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$50,099
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
$17,021
$30,001 – $48,000
$17,020
$48,001 – $75,000
$20,628
$75,001 – $110,000
$21,637
Over $110,000
$21,972
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.
$2,82610%percentile
$5,50025%percentile
$26,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$40,00090%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 $19,000
↓ $7,000
No Pell $15,250
↓ $10,750
Dependent students $17,407
↓ $8,593
Independent students $19,565
↓ $6,435
Female students $18,875
↓ $7,125
Male students $16,000
↓ $10,000
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,250, less than completers ($26,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
31% of full-time students who enrolled at Mars Hill University graduate within six years, and 66% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
31%
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 Mars Hill University earn a median of $44,781 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$44,781
Earning > $25K
75%
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
$30,000
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$38,100
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$30,200
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$33,800
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$37,900
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $8,100, about 21% 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 ↑
17.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 80% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Mars Hill University is home to 1,044 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 34% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
1,044
Part-Time
5%
First-Generation
34%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 63.1%659
Black 15.7%164
Hispanic 9.5%99
International 5.7%59
Other 1.8%19
Asian 1.1%11
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Mars Hill University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Rural: FringeMars Hill, North Carolina
Housing
Strongly residential818 beds for 1,044 students
Adult Learners
9%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Mars Hill University offers
a varied set of programs:
31 distinct programs across
16 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 Mars Hill University is 10:1, low (small classes, more faculty contact).
Student : Faculty
10:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$116M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$52,811
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
73 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
19
26%
$57,308
Associate Professors
27
37%
$53,211
Assistant Professors
20
27%
$51,733
Instructors
7
10%
$42,145
Pros & Cons of Mars Hill University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Mars Hill University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Tight-knit, close community feel
Wide reach of need-based federal aid
CONS
Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
First-year retention is below typical
Best for:
Based on the data, Mars Hill University is a fit for
students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.
Frequently Asked Questions about Mars Hill University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Mars Hill University.
Is Mars Hill University hard to get into?
Admissions at Mars Hill University are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 67.9%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Mars Hill University?
Mars Hill University has an acceptance rate of 67.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Mars Hill University cost?
The average net price after aid at Mars Hill University is $19,910 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Mars Hill University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $44,781 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $19,910 per year. That's roughly 2.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Mars Hill University known for?
Mars Hill University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Mars Hill University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Mars Hill University are $44,781, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Mars Hill University accredited?
Yes. Mars Hill University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
How many students attend Mars Hill University?
Mars Hill University enrolls 1,044 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Mars Hill University?
Mars Hill University graduates 31% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Mars Hill University a public or private college?
Mars Hill University is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Mars Hill University located?
Mars Hill University is located in Mars Hill, North Carolina.
What programs does Mars Hill University offer?
Mars Hill University offers 31 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Mars Hill University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Mars Hill University is 10:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in North Carolina
Other colleges in North Carolina share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
Business Administration
Criminal Justice
Kinesiology
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