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McPherson College

McPherson College is based in the town of McPherson, KS — a private campus in a small-town setting. The school reports a Church of Brethren affiliation in its federal filings.

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What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

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Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$20,869

family income
under $30k

$21,172

$30–48k

$25,387

$48–75k

$27,314

$75–110k

$28,232

over $110k

Average net price

$26,4412023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at McPherson College rose from $16,986 (2008) to $26,441 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$16,986
2009	$18,336
2010	$18,497
2011	$19,967
2012	$20,191
2013	$19,687
2014	$20,003
2015	$17,754
2016	$21,341
2017	$21,871
2018	$23,667
2019	$26,425
2020	$24,423
2021	$24,393
2022	$24,837
2023	$26,441

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$50,6112024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at McPherson College rose from $28,410 (2009) to $50,611 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$28,410
2010	$30,130
2011	$31,942
2012	$32,990
2013	$34,534
2014	$35,312
2015	$37,000
2016	$38,359
2017	$39,634
2018	$41,047
2019	$43,011
2020	$44,154
2021	$44,885
2022	$47,059
2023	$48,404
2024	$50,611

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition & fees

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

Tuition & fees — data
Year	Tuition & fees
2000	$11,700
2001	$12,720
2002	$13,345
2003	$14,090
2004	$14,645
2005	$15,160
2006	$15,475
2007	$16,400
2008	$17,200
2013	$22,891
2014	$24,035
2015	$25,236
2016	$26,498
2017	$27,823
2018	$28,951
2019	$30,077
2020	$31,154
2021	$32,408
2022	$33,536
2023	$35,162

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Reported tuition is $37,310 before grants and other attendance costs. At McPherson College, aid and other costs change the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Enrollment sits at 872 — McPherson College is one of the smaller campuses on this site.

33.9% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at McPherson College within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

key chart

33.9%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at McPherson College fell from 44.7% (entered 1996) to 33.9% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1996 cohort	44.7%
1997 cohort	28.8%
1998 cohort	38.8%
1999 cohort	34.9%
2000 cohort	37.2%
2001 cohort	42%
2002 cohort	48%
2003 cohort	45.5%
2004 cohort	46.1%
2005 cohort	45.8%
2006 cohort	51.7%
2007 cohort	49.3%
2008 cohort	48.1%
2009 cohort	64.7%
2010 cohort	37.1%
2011 cohort	35.6%
2012 cohort	36.6%
2013 cohort	40.6%
2014 cohort	38%
2015 cohort	52.6%
2016 cohort	49.5%
2017 cohort	52%
2018 cohort	33.9%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1996–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1997 and 1998 (FY1997/98)	$15,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$16,000	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$17,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$17,125	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$16,500	$3,313
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$16,500	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$15,375	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$14,500	$3,062
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$15,812	$3,313
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$17,125	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$17,125	$4,375
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$17,125	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$18,750	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$20,500	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$24,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$25,000	$8,417
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$24,500	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$25,289	$10,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$26,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$26,000	$7,000
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$25,000	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$25,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$25,949	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$25,242	$6,500

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$41,446

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$42,708

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$52,084

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

McPherson College admitted 1,417 of 1,846 applicants in Fall 2024. The 76.8% rate describes that application pool.

76.8%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $35,162 tuition · 2023–24 872 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Test-optional (considered) · Fall 2024

400SAT range (section 25th/75th sums): 960–12001600

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, McPherson College received 1,846 applications and admitted 1,417 (76.8%), with 318 enrolling.

McPherson College reported scores as considered but not required for the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. For McPherson College’s enrolled SAT submitters, Reading and Writing was 470–620 and Math was 490–580 (25th–75th percentiles). The section-percentile sums 960–1200 are not composite-score percentiles. These are not admission cutoffs.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Score	25th	50th	75th
SAT Reading & Writing	470	541	620
SAT Math	490	536	580
ACT Composite	18	20	23

25th / 75th: a quarter of enrolled submitters scored below the first number, a quarter above the second. These are not cutoffs.

Only students who submitted scores are counted — at test-optional schools, many enrolled students aren't in this table.

Percentiles are among enrolled students who submitted scores (Fall 2024 admissions cycle).

Acceptance rate

76.8%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	77.9%
Fall 2002	68.4%
Fall 2003	73.2%
Fall 2004	75%
Fall 2005	85%
Fall 2006	87.5%
Fall 2007	80.5%
Fall 2008	86.8%
Fall 2009	86.7%
Fall 2010	84.4%
Fall 2011	57.2%
Fall 2012	60.3%
Fall 2013	86.6%
Fall 2014	99.3%
Fall 2015	72.7%
Fall 2016	57.3%
Fall 2017	48.5%
Fall 2018	77.1%
Fall 2019	52.1%
Fall 2020	52.2%
Fall 2021	84.6%
Fall 2022	65.9%
Fall 2023	83.8%
Fall 2024	76.8%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

960–1200Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	850	1060
Fall 2002	800	1010
Fall 2003	890	1130
Fall 2004	880	1070
Fall 2005	820	1140
Fall 2006	860	1110
Fall 2007	870	1130
Fall 2008	870	1130
Fall 2009	898	1123
Fall 2010	860	1060
Fall 2011	860	1010
Fall 2012	885	1115
Fall 2013	975	1100
Fall 2014	900	1070
Fall 2015	900	1130
Fall 2016	900	1130
Fall 2017	1030	1180
Fall 2018	990	1170
Fall 2019	970	1130
Fall 2022	908	1120
Fall 2023	936	1126
Fall 2024	960	1200

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

18–23Fall 2024 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	18	22
Fall 2002	18	23
Fall 2003	19	23
Fall 2004	19	23
Fall 2005	19	24
Fall 2006	19	24
Fall 2007	20	24
Fall 2008	19	24
Fall 2009	19	24
Fall 2010	19	24
Fall 2011	18	24
Fall 2012	19	24
Fall 2013	19	24
Fall 2014	18	25
Fall 2015	15	24
Fall 2016	19	24
Fall 2017	20	24
Fall 2018	19	23
Fall 2019	19	23
Fall 2022	17	23
Fall 2023	17	24
Fall 2024	18	23

IPEDS Fall 2001–2024, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

872Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at McPherson College rose from 379 (Fall 2002) to 872 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	379
Fall 2003	408
Fall 2004	463
Fall 2005	472
Fall 2006	499
Fall 2007	532
Fall 2008	534
Fall 2009	573
Fall 2010	653
Fall 2011	616
Fall 2012	627
Fall 2013	632
Fall 2014	619
Fall 2015	643
Fall 2016	678
Fall 2017	688
Fall 2018	716
Fall 2019	764
Fall 2020	808
Fall 2021	825
Fall 2022	812
Fall 2023	786
Fall 2024	872

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

65%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at McPherson College has wandered from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023 — up to 71% at the peak — but ends near where it began, at 65%.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	66%
Fall 2003 cohort	71%
Fall 2004 cohort	63%
Fall 2005 cohort	66%
Fall 2006 cohort	66%
Fall 2007 cohort	69%
Fall 2008 cohort	67%
Fall 2009 cohort	69%
Fall 2010 cohort	59%
Fall 2011 cohort	56%
Fall 2012 cohort	57%
Fall 2013 cohort	57%
Fall 2014 cohort	56%
Fall 2015 cohort	70%
Fall 2016 cohort	64%
Fall 2017 cohort	70%
Fall 2018 cohort	58%
Fall 2019 cohort	66%
Fall 2020 cohort	66%
Fall 2021 cohort	63%
Fall 2022 cohort	65%
Fall 2023 cohort	65%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about McPherson College

37.9% of McPherson College's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes McPherson College as a primarily residential campus of 872 undergraduates — and 65.1% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

McPherson College's SAT section-percentile sums are 960–1200 — their midpoint is near the KS four-year benchmark. These are not total-score percentiles. Put your own practice estimate on McPherson College's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How McPherson College compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

McPherson College76.8%

Kansas median81.7%

National median76.8%

Tuition

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

McPherson College$37,310

Kansas median$33,000

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

McPherson College's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

McPherson College$52,084

Kansas median$52,113

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

McPherson College, Kansas and national reference values
Metric & basis	McPherson College	Kansas median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	76.8%	81.7%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$37,310	$33,000	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$52,084	$52,113	$53,781

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does McPherson College report?

McPherson College's enrolled submitters had SAT section-percentile sums of 960–1200 in Fall 2024. These are not total-score percentiles or a GPA requirement.

What is McPherson College's acceptance rate?

76.8% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 1,417 admitted from 1,846 applicants.

How much does McPherson College cost?

At McPherson College, tuition is $37,310. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does McPherson College report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $52,084. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Kansas

MidAmerica Nazarene University — 78.8% admitted
Kansas Wesleyan University — 71.9% admitted
Kansas State University — 81.7% admitted
Ottawa University-Ottawa — 83% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Read the date and population definitions.