Lyon College vs. McPherson College

Deciding between Lyon College and McPherson College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Lyon College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lyon College Batesville, AR
  • McPherson College McPherson, KS
  • Setting
  • Lyon College Remote Town
  • McPherson College Remote Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Lyon College 659
  • McPherson College 878
  • Type
  • Lyon College Private 4 Year
  • McPherson College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lyon College
  • McPherson College
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lyon College Presbyterian Church (USA)
  • McPherson College Church of Brethren
  • Status
  • Lyon College Non-profit
  • McPherson College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lyon College
  • McPherson College
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lyon College $31,000
  • McPherson College $37,310
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lyon College $31,000
  • McPherson College $37,310
  • Room & Board
  • Lyon College $10,750
  • McPherson College $11,498
  • Average Net Price
  • Lyon College $19,872
  • McPherson College $27,110
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lyon College $25,132
  • McPherson College $23,513
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lyon College 100%
  • McPherson College 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lyon College 1,654
  • McPherson College 1,846
  • Admitted
  • Lyon College 1,038
  • McPherson College 1,417
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lyon College 62.8%
  • McPherson College 76.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Lyon College 22.5%
  • McPherson College 22.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lyon College 1120
  • McPherson College 1080
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lyon College 23
  • McPherson College 20
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lyon College 3.0
  • McPherson College 3.33
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lyon College B
  • McPherson College B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lyon College Easy
  • McPherson College Very Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lyon College Low
  • McPherson College
  • ACT Range
  • Lyon College 21/26
  • McPherson College 18/23
  • SAT Range
  • Lyon College 1050/1195
  • McPherson College 960/1200
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lyon College Test-free
  • McPherson College Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lyon College
  • McPherson College Aug 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lyon College 11:1
  • McPherson College 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lyon College
    • Business (19%)
    • Biology (16%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • History (12%)
    • English and Literature (10%)
  • McPherson College
    • Business (22%)
    • Engineering Technology (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
    • Education (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lyon College 50%
  • McPherson College 46%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lyon College $43,900
  • McPherson College $44,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lyon College 60%
  • McPherson College 67%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lyon College $25,000
  • McPherson College $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lyon College $258
  • McPherson College $268
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lyon College 56%
  • McPherson College 67%
  • % Women
  • Lyon College 44%
  • McPherson College 33%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lyon College Low
  • McPherson College Medium
  • HBCU
  • Lyon College No
  • McPherson College No
  • % White
  • Lyon College 75%
  • McPherson College 70%
  • % Asian
  • Lyon College 2%
  • McPherson College 1%
  • % Black
  • Lyon College 6%
  • McPherson College 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lyon College 7%
  • McPherson College 12%
  • % Native American
  • Lyon College 2%
  • McPherson College 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lyon College 0%
  • McPherson College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lyon College 0%
  • McPherson College 2%
  • % International
  • Lyon College 2%
  • McPherson College 4%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lyon College 6%
  • McPherson College 0%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lyon College 55%
  • McPherson College 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lyon College 34%
  • McPherson College 70%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Lyon College Yes
  • McPherson College Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Lyon College No
  • McPherson College No
  • Meal Plan
  • Lyon College Yes
  • McPherson College Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Lyon College No
  • McPherson College Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Lyon College No
  • McPherson College No

Comparable Facts

Compare Lyon College in Batesville, AR with McPherson College in McPherson, KS on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McPherson College is larger than Lyon College based on total student enrollment (878 students vs. 659 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lyon College is located in Batesville, AR (Remote Town setting); McPherson College is in McPherson, KS (Remote Town setting).
  • Lyon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. McPherson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lyon College 11:1; McPherson College 16:1.

Lyon College vs. McPherson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lyon College or McPherson College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Lyon College than McPherson College ($19,872 vs. $27,110).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Lyon College are 6.5% lower than at McPherson College ($10,750 vs. $11,498).
  • McPherson College is 20.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Lyon College (about $6,310 more per year; $37,310.00 vs. $31,000.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.4% higher at McPherson College than at Lyon College (about $6,310 more per year; $37,310.00 vs. $31,000.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Lyon College as at McPherson College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lyon College students is 6.9% larger than aid received by McPherson College students ($25,132 vs. $23,513).

Lyon College vs. McPherson College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lyon College or McPherson College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between McPherson College and Lyon College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Lyon College (1120) is 40 points higher than at McPherson College (1080).
  • Incoming Lyon College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 20 at McPherson College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lyon College 1050/1195; McPherson College 960/1200.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lyon College 21/26; McPherson College 18/23.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lyon College - Test-free; McPherson College - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: McPherson College Aug 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman McPherson College students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Lyon College (3.0).
  • McPherson College has a higher acceptance rate (76.8%) than Lyon College (62.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at Lyon College vs. 22.4% at McPherson College.

Lyon College vs. McPherson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lyon College and McPherson College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Lyon College's six-year graduation rate (50%) is higher than McPherson College's (46%).
  • Graduates from McPherson College earn a median of about $300 more per year than Lyon College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,200 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Lyon College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than McPherson College graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,000).
  • Among borrowers, Lyon College graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than McPherson College graduates ($258 vs. $268).
  • More McPherson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Lyon College students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 60%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.