Admit rate has ranged 29%–79% 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.
Rust College, Mississippi's oldest HBCU, is a small, historically Black institution with a tight-knit community and a focus on liberal arts and sciences. With an acceptance rate hovering around 34-49%, it's selective but accessible, offering a personalized education where the student-faculty ratio is just 11:1. While graduation rates are low (27%), the college provides a supportive environment with recently renovated residence halls and a strong emphasis on student involvement.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
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
467
In-state tuition
$13,265
Out-of-state tuition
$13,265
Popular Majors
Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science
Acceptance Rate
34.7%-49%
Average Net Cost
$12,587
Student-Faculty Ratio
11:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
27%
Freshman Retention Rate
66%
Undergraduate Enrollment
429
Median Earnings (6 Years)
$25,641
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$32,275
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.6×
Median debt at graduation
$26,159
Graduation rate
12%
First-year retention
84%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
21%
Pell (lower-income) share
94%
First-generation share
46%
Endowment / student
$118,569
Financial health
3.0 / 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.
Journalism$19,683
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$19,455
Biology, General$17,595
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)
3
Per 1,000 students
6.42
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
90
Summer high
89°F
Winter low
37°F
Annual rain
58.7"
Annual snow
3.5"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively 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
43
Scholarly works
447
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
2.3%
Bottom → top quintile
7%
From bottom quintile
36%
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 Rust College?
Rust College's acceptance rate is approximately 49% (Holly Springs, MS), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Rust College cost?
At Rust College, the average net price (after aid) is about $12,587 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Rust College?
Rust College enrolls approximately 467 undergraduate students.
Where is Rust College located?
Rust College is located in Holly Springs, MS.
Admissions
Rust College is selective, 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 34.7% to 49%, depending on the source. Applicants typically need a high school GPA of at least 2.5 and must submit ACT or SAT scores. The average SAT score for admitted students falls between 630-800, while the average ACT score is around 15, though some reports suggest this may be lower. The college does not explicitly track demonstrated interest but emphasizes academic readiness.
Rust College offers a range of undergraduate programs, with popular majors including Biology, Business Administration, Computer Science, and Elementary Education. The college has a student-faculty ratio of 11:1, ensuring personalized attention. Despite its small size (429 undergraduates), Rust provides a liberal arts foundation with a focus on preparing students for careers or further education. The freshman retention rate is 66%, indicating moderate student satisfaction.
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 Rust College revolves around its small, close-knit community. With just 429 undergraduates (49.4% male, 50.6% female), the campus fosters strong relationships between students and faculty. The Student Government Association actively works to enhance campus life, and recent renovations to residence halls like Wiff Hall have improved living conditions. Students describe the environment as supportive and family-like, with opportunities to engage in diverse cultural experiences.
Graduation rates at Rust College are low, with only 27% of students completing their degrees within six years. However, those who graduate often pursue careers in fields like Biology, where reported earnings are competitive. Median earnings six years after graduation are $25,641, rising to $32,000 after ten years. The college faces challenges in retention, with a 9.5% retention rate, but aims to improve outcomes through academic support and career preparation.
Tuition at Rust College is $25,077 per year, but the average net cost after aid drops to $12,587. Financial aid packages often include federal grants ($8,330 on average), state grants ($6,029), and institutional aid ($6,414). Pell Grants average $6,565, making the college accessible to low-income students. 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 families estimate their actual costs, and the financial aid office provides personalized support for applications like the FAFSA.
Rust College stands out as Mississippi's oldest HBCU, offering a historically rich education with a strong sense of community. Its small size allows for individualized attention, and recent campus improvements, like renovated residence halls, enhance student life. While graduation rates are a challenge, the college's focus on STEM fields (like Biology and Computer Science) and its commitment to affordability make it a unique option for students seeking a supportive, historically significant environment.
