C+
Above Average
Score: 54/100
Overall (traditional)
F
Outcome Rating
12/100 · earnings-weighted

Rust College

4-Year Private Non-Profit HBCU
📍 Holly Springs, Mississippi 38635
Rust College campus, Holly Springs, MS
Rust College campus, Holly Springs, MS. Photo: Fredlyfish4, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
ℹ️
Rating Context: This institution has fewer than 500 students. Smaller schools may show more rating variability due to limited data points.

Suggested Focus: For this type of institution, we recommend prioritizing the Outcomes Score (D) which measures graduation and job placement rates — the most relevant metrics for career programs.
Graduation Rate: 27%
Outcomes
D
37/100
Affordability
C+
56/100
Resources
B
67/100
Experience
A
83/100
Prestige
D
36/100

Two ratings: the overall grade compares colleges the conventional way (outcomes, cost, resources, experience, reputation). The Outcome Rating asks what students earn: 60% wage-adjusted earnings 10 years after enrolling, 25% graduation, 15% retention. Methodology

Quick Stats

429
Total Enrollment
27%
Graduation Rate
10%
Retention Rate
11.0:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
35%
Acceptance Rate
N/A
Avg Net Price

Earnings, Debt & Completion

What happens to students who enroll at Rust College, from the U.S. Department of Education’s College Scorecard.

$32,275
Median earnings 10 yrs after entry
$25,641
Median earnings 6 yrs after entry
$26,159
Median debt at graduation
11.8%
Completion rate (within 150% of normal time)
71.5%
Students receiving Pell grants

Typical debt at graduation equals about 81% of one year’s median earnings ten years after entry.

Earnings rank: 6th percentile among bachelor’s-degree-focused colleges after a partial adjustment for local wage levels (MS wage index 0.68). This drives the Outcome Rating.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, retrieved Oct 2026. Earnings are for federally aided students who enrolled, whether or not they graduated.

Earnings by Major at Rust College

Median pay of bachelor's degree graduates by field of study, and how each program ranks against every college reporting that major — by raw pay and adjusted for state wage levels. Same school, very different paychecks.

Major1 yr after4 yrs aftervs. nationalRank (pay)Rank (wage-adj.)Median debt
Journalism$24,977$41,398-26%#178 of 187#143$25,038
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods$25,814$35,634-25%#673 of 680#616$31,000
Biology$26,947$33,981-41%#837 of 841#824$24,696

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study data. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid and were working; small programs are not reported.

For parents & investors

The Rust College Town Property Report

  • Avg home value near campus: $175,029
  • Avg rent near campus: $945/mo
  • Top nearby ZIP by cap rate: 38659 (4.4% cap, Potts Camp)

Get the free 1-page report: rent-vs-dorm math, the 3 best nearby ZIPs by yield, and the “kiddie condo” strategy parents use.

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Costs & Financial Aid

Tuition & Fees

Category In-State Out-of-State
Tuition $11,385 $11,385
Total Cost (On-Campus) $23,320 $23,320

Financial Aid

97%
Receive Any Aid
77%
Receive Pell Grants
61%
Take Out Loans
N/A
Avg Net Price

Student Demographics

429
Total Students
51%
Women
79%
Traditional Age (18-24)

👥 Race & Ethnicity

Black 93%
Non-Resident 4%

🏠 Living Arrangements

💻 Learning Mode

In-Person 80%
Hybrid (Some Online) 14%
Fully Online 7%

📊 Age Distribution

18-24 (Traditional) 79%
25-64 (Adult) 21%

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Rust College?
Rust College has an acceptance rate of 35%. This makes it a moderately selective institution with competitive admission standards.
How much does it cost to attend Rust College?
Tuition at Rust College is $11,385 for in-state students and $11,385 for out-of-state students .
What is the graduation rate at Rust College?
The graduation rate at Rust College is 27%. This graduation rate is low, which may reflect the institution's student population, program types, or other factors worth investigating.
Is Rust College a good school?
Rust College has a Repit College Score of 54/100 (Grade: C+). Our rating evaluates five key factors:
  • Outcomes (D): Graduation and retention rates
  • Affordability (C+): Net cost and financial aid access
  • Resources (B): Class sizes and selectivity
  • Experience (A): Campus life and learning format
  • Prestige (D): Reputation and recognition
Note: As a smaller institution, we recommend focusing on the Outcomes score when evaluating this school.
How many students attend Rust College?
Rust College has a total enrollment of 429 students. Most students (79%) are traditional college-age (18-24).

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🎓 Similar Colleges to Rust College

Compare with other 4-Year private non-profit institutions of similar size.

C+
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C+
Millsaps College
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C
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Wesley Biblical Seminary
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Mississippi University for Women
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Delta State University
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Data source: IPEDS 2023-24 | Last updated: October 2026 | Methodology