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Rust College
About 49 in 100 applicants get into Rust College — solidly within reach for students near the ranges below.
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Rust College anchors the college town of Holly Springs, MS, where the private campus and town largely share a footprint. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities, a designation that shapes both its history and its present mission. The school maintains its United Methodist affiliation, which threads through campus life to a degree that varies by program.
Its highest-earning path is Journalism, where graduates median $41,398 four years out. Faculty pay averages $61,152 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. Most of its 467 undergraduates commute — campus empties by evening — yet 84.4% of first-years return, which says something about what daytime here is worth.
The rest of this page puts figures to that sketch.
Admissions
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Rust College received 1,715 applications and admitted 595 (34.7%), with 103 enrolling.
How Rust College compares
| Rust College | Mississippi median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 48.7% | 77.6% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $13,265 | $10,202 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $32,275 | $42,539 | $53,781 |
Ten years out, Rust College's median earnings are $32,275 — below the Mississippi benchmark of $42,539. Weigh that against the $13,265 price above; the by-major table shows majors drive much of this gap.
Cost, size & completion
Rust College lists tuition at $13,265 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Rust College's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $13,265 as the ceiling, not the bill.
With 467 undergraduates, Rust College is small enough that class size and faculty access are structural, not marketing claims.
Fewer than half of Rust College students — 11.8% — finish within six years. That number should shape how much debt feels safe.
Top majors by earnings at Rust College
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Journalism | $41,398 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $35,634 |
| Biology, General | $33,981 |
Median earnings for these 3 Rust College programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $32,275 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 14 additional Rust College programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What is Rust College's acceptance rate?
34.7% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 595 admitted from 1,715 applicants.
How much does Rust College cost?
At Rust College, published tuition is $13,265 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Rust College's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Rust College graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $32,275 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Mississippi
- Tougaloo College — 59.9% admitted
- Millsaps College — 43.1% admitted
- Belhaven University — 49.8% admitted
- Alcorn State University — 45.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.