Rust College vs. SPU

Should I go to Rust College or Seattle Pacific University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Rust College or SPU is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Rust College vs. Seattle Pacific University comparison
Rust College Seattle Pacific University College 3 College 4
Rust College Seattle Pacific University
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Overview

Rust College SPU
Location Holly Springs, MS Seattle, WA
Setting Distant Town Large City
Enrollment 429 2,659
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #246
Religious Affiliation United Methodist Free Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website rustcollege.edu spu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Rust College SPU
Tuition (In State) $11,385 $37,965
Tuition (Out of State) $11,385 $37,965
Room & Board $5,980 $15,498
Avg Net Price $8,234 $26,155
Avg Grant Aid $12,238 $28,070
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 98%

Admission

Rust College SPU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,715 2,806
Admitted 595 2,556
Acceptance Rate 34.7% 91.1%
Enrolled % 17.3% 14.9%
Avg High School GPA 2.66 3.53
Typical High School Grades C+ B+
Admissions Standards Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 17/18 20/28
SAT Range 440/1339 1050/1320
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 11, 2025

Academics

Rust College SPU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 10:1
Popular Majors
  • Biology (20%)
  • Education (15%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Psychology (8%)

Outcomes

Rust College SPU
Graduation Rate 28% 74%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $25,100 $50,400
Making Student Loan Payments 21% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,837 $25,603
Median Loan Payment $287 $264

Diversity

Rust College SPU
% Men 0% 6%
% Women 0% 16%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 0% 61%
% Black 97% 4%
% Hispanic 0% 10%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 0% 8%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 0% 1%

Students

Rust College SPU
% In-State 19% 71%
% Out-of-State 63% 26%

Campus

Rust College SPU
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Rust College based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 429 students)

Rust College vs. SPU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rust College or SPU?

  • Seattle Pacific University is 233.5% more expensive to attend than Rust College for in-state tuition ($37,965.00 vs. $11,385.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 233.5% higher at SPU than Rust College ($37,965.00 vs. $11,385.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rust College than SPU ($8,234 vs. $26,155)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rust College are 159.2% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($5,980 vs. $15,498)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Seattle Pacific University than Rust College (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Seattle Pacific University students is 129.4% larger than aid received Rust College ($28,070 vs. $12,238)

Rust College vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rust College or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Rust College .

  • The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 365 points higher than at Rust College (780)
  • Incoming SPU students have a 10 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Rust College (16)
  • Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.87 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Rust College (2.66)
  • SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Rust College (34.7%)

Rust College vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Rust College or SPU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between SPU and Rust College.

  • The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Rust College (74% vs. 28%)
  • Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $25,300 more per year than Rust College graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $25,100)
  • Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $2,234 lower median federal student loan debt than Rust College graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,837)
  • SPU graduates are paying $23 less per month on federal student loans than Rust College graduates. ($264 vs. $287)
  • More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rust College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 21%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/