Mars Hill University vs. Cornish College of the Arts

Comparable Facts

Compare Mars Hill University in Mars Hill, NC with Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Mars Hill University is larger than Cornish College of the Arts based on total student enrollment (1,110 students vs. 505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Mars Hill University is located in Mars Hill, NC (Rural Fringe setting); Cornish College of the Arts is in Seattle, WA (Large City setting).
• Mars Hill University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cornish College of the Arts is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Mars Hill University 11:1; Cornish College of the Arts 6:1.

Mars Hill University vs. Cornish College of the Arts Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Mars Hill University or Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Mars Hill University than Cornish College of the Arts ($18,925 vs. $41,758).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mars Hill University are 23.5% lower than at Cornish College of the Arts ($12,258 vs. $16,030).
• Cornish College of the Arts is 10.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Mars Hill University (about $3,948 more per year; $41,684.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at Cornish College of the Arts than at Mars Hill University (about $3,948 more per year; $41,684.00 vs. $37,736.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Mars Hill University as at Cornish College of the Arts (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Mars Hill University students is 67.8% larger than aid received by Cornish College of the Arts students ($31,066 vs. $18,515).

Mars Hill University vs. Cornish College of the Arts Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Mars Hill University or Cornish College of the Arts? 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 Cornish College of the Arts and Mars Hill University.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Mars Hill University - Test-free; Cornish College of the Arts - Test-free.
• Mars Hill University has a higher acceptance rate (67.9%) than Cornish College of the Arts (62.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 31.1% at Mars Hill University vs. 19.3% at Cornish College of the Arts.

Mars Hill University vs. Cornish College of the Arts Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Mars Hill University and Cornish College of the Arts? 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).

• Cornish College of the Arts's six-year graduation rate (45%) is higher than Mars Hill University's (38%).
• Graduates from Mars Hill University earn a median of about $600 more per year than Cornish College of the Arts graduates about ten years after starting college ($32,300 vs. $31,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cornish College of the Arts and Mars Hill University graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Cornish College of the Arts and Mars Hill University graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Cornish College of the Arts graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mars Hill University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 53%)

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.