Admit rate has ranged 56%–91% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana, is a small liberal arts college with a welcoming, close-knit community and a focus on hands-on learning. Known for its high acceptance rate and personalized academic support, it offers over 70 programs blending career-focused education with a liberal arts foundation. While its graduation rates and post-grad salaries are modest, its affordability and tight-knit campus life appeal to students seeking a supportive, engaged environment.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
936
In-state tuition
$37,135
Out-of-state tuition
$37,135
Location
North Manchester, IN
Acceptance Rate
66-91%
Average Scholarship
$12.4k
4-Year Graduation Rate
37%
Students Receiving Aid
90%
Median Early-Career Salary
$38,243
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$51,504
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.7×
Median debt at graduation
$26,854
Graduation rate
46%
First-year retention
66%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
70%
Pell (lower-income) share
53%
First-generation share
34%
Endowment / student
$82,083
Financial health
2.2 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Accounting and Related Services$50,856
Marketing$39,369
Business Administration, Management and Operations$36,848
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness$28,816
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
4
Per 1,000 students
4.27
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
89
Summer high
82°F
Winter low
24°F
Annual rain
38.4"
Annual snow
25"
Natural-hazard risk
Very Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
238
Scholarly works
12,598
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.4%
Bottom → top quintile
10%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Manchester University?
Manchester University's acceptance rate is approximately 71% (North Manchester, IN), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Manchester University cost?
At Manchester University, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,805 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Manchester University?
Manchester University enrolls approximately 936 undergraduate students.
Where is Manchester University located?
Manchester University is located in North Manchester, IN.
Admissions
Manchester University is notably accessible, with Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. ranging from 66.38% to 91.3% across sources, making it a 'nearly open admissions' school. The university doesn't heavily emphasize SAT/ACT scores (no strict deadlines for submission), instead focusing on holistic factors like grades and extracurricular involvement. Applications are due by August 10 for regular decision, with no early admission policy mentioned.
Manchester offers 70+ undergraduate programs spanning arts, business, education, health professions, and humanities, emphasizing hands-on learning and personalized faculty support. Its curriculum blends career-focused training with a liberal arts foundation, aiming to build critical thinking and practical skills. While not elite (Reddit users note it's 'not quite Cambridge or MIT'), it's praised for dedicated faculty and a supportive learning environment. Standout features include small class sizes and interdisciplinary opportunities.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Life at Manchester revolves around its tight-knit, supportive community. With 30+ clubs, music ensembles, and service projects, students describe a 'welcoming and diverse' atmosphere where connections form easily. The small campus fosters camaraderie, though some Reddit users note the social scene is quieter compared to larger universities. Highlights include:
Active student organizations and leadership opportunities
Strong emphasis on community service
Inclusive vibe with 'caring support offices' for student well-being
Graduation rates are modest, with a 37% 4-year rate and 41.9% 6-year rate (below national medians). Alumni earn a median salary of $38,243 early-career, rising to $43,024 six years post-graduation. While not a high-earning powerhouse, the university emphasizes ROI through affordability—graduates typically recoup costs in ~13 years. Career support focuses on local and regional opportunities, with health professions and education among stronger outcomes.
Tuition runs $51,887 annually, but 90% of students receive aid, with average scholarships of $12.4k. The Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator helps estimate actual costs after grants and scholarships. Financial aid packages often include institutional scholarships, with $1M+ awarded yearly. While sticker price is high for a regional school, aggressive aid policies aim to improve accessibility.
Manchester’s distinction lies in its balance of accessibility and personalized attention. Unlike cutthroat liberal arts colleges, it welcomes a broad range of students while maintaining small classes and faculty mentorship. Its 'academics that move you forward' approach merges liberal arts with practical training—ideal for students who want close relationships with professors and a community-oriented campus. The trade-off? Limited name recognition and modest post-grad outcomes, but for those prioritizing support over prestige, it delivers.
Manchester University logo · sourceOur campus | The University of Manchester · sourceOur campus | The University of Manchester · sourceCampus spaces | Student life at The University of Manchester · source
