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Rust College

Rust College is based in the town of Holly Springs, MS — a private campus in a small-town setting. It is one of the nation's historically Black colleges and universities — a federally recognized designation. The school reports a United Methodist 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

key chart

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

$8,487

family income
under $30k

$7,178

$30–48k

$11,635

$48–75k

$9,226

$75–110k

$7,027

over $110k

These figures don't always rise with income — aid formulas can make a higher bracket cheaper.

Average net price

$12,5872023–24Skip 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 Rust College rose from $7,827 (2008) to $12,587 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$7,827
2009	$8,993
2010	$6,954
2011	$8,398
2012	$8,500
2013	$9,763
2014	$9,777
2015	$9,446
2016	$9,784
2017	$10,364
2018	$11,317
2019	$8,924
2020	$8,392
2021	$9,638
2022	$8,751
2023	$12,587

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$23,1072024–25Skip 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 Rust College rose from $13,595 (2009) to $23,107 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$13,595
2010	$14,716
2011	$13,384
2012	$14,508
2013	$14,466
2014	$15,284
2015	$15,697
2016	$16,093
2017	$16,102
2018	$16,490
2019	$16,664
2020	$16,700
2021	$16,700
2022	$16,700
2023	$18,448
2024	$23,107

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
2001	$5,600
2002	$5,600
2003	$8,400
2004	$8,600
2005	$6,200
2006	$6,550
2007	$6,600
2008	$7,000
2013	$8,900
2014	$9,286
2015	$9,500
2016	$9,500
2017	$9,700
2018	$9,900
2019	$9,900
2020	$9,900
2021	$9,900
2022	$9,900
2023	$13,840

IPEDS Published price 2001–02 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Rust College reports published tuition of $13,265 in this record. Rust College's $13,265 tuition excludes other attendance costs; aid can reduce the bill. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

Rust College reports 467 undergraduates. This count does not measure class size or advising access.

11.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Rust 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

11.8%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 Rust College fell from 35.6% (entered 1991) to 11.8% (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
1991 cohort	35.6%
1992 cohort	46.2%
1993 cohort	37%
1994 cohort	35.2%
1995 cohort	33.9%
1996 cohort	36.7%
1997 cohort	28.8%
1998 cohort	29.6%
1999 cohort	12.8%
2000 cohort	16.5%
2001 cohort	29.2%
2002 cohort	2%
2003 cohort	22.9%
2004 cohort	29.1%
2005 cohort	28.3%
2006 cohort	33.7%
2007 cohort	20.2%
2008 cohort	18.1%
2009 cohort	34.8%
2010 cohort	32.6%
2011 cohort	38.8%
2012 cohort	33.2%
2013 cohort	28.1%
2014 cohort	19.7%
2015 cohort	26.9%
2016 cohort	24.7%
2017 cohort	27%
2018 cohort	11.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

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)	$12,419	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1998 and 1999 (FY1998/99)	$11,088	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	$10,418	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2000 and 2001 (FY2000/01)	$9,650	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2001 and 2002 (FY2001/02)	$10,300	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	$11,625	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	$12,150	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$12,250	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$12,000	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$12,313	$2,625
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$13,450	$3,500
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,125	$4,440
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,537	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,314	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$20,480	$5,250
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$21,130	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$22,813	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$25,809	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$27,838	$7,575
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$29,325	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$28,289	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$27,000	$8,250
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$25,253	$7,403
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$26,159	$8,979

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

$25,641

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$26,918

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$32,275

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

Rust College admitted 1,853 of 3,807 applicants in Fall 2024. The 48.7% rate describes that application pool.

48.7%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $13,840 tuition · 2023–24 467 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

Rust College did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for Rust College under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Rust College received 3,807 applications and admitted 1,853 (48.7%), with 119 enrolling.

Acceptance rate

48.7%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 2006	40.9%
Fall 2007	47.9%
Fall 2008	40%
Fall 2009	58.4%
Fall 2010	33.8%
Fall 2011	45.6%
Fall 2012	32.8%
Fall 2013	13.9%
Fall 2014	38.9%
Fall 2015	41.5%
Fall 2016	46.9%
Fall 2017	43.2%
Fall 2018	53.2%
Fall 2019	50.2%
Fall 2020	29.5%
Fall 2021	37.6%
Fall 2022	—
Fall 2023	34.7%
Fall 2024	48.7%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2006–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

440–1339Fall 2022 · 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 2013	630	800
Fall 2022	440	1339

IPEDS Fall 2013–2022, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

17–18Fall 2022 · 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 2006	14	17
Fall 2007	14	17
Fall 2008	14	17
Fall 2009	14	18
Fall 2010	17	18
Fall 2011	14	21
Fall 2012	13	17
Fall 2013	13	14
Fall 2014	14	17
Fall 2015	14	18
Fall 2016	13	17
Fall 2022	17	18

IPEDS Fall 2006–2022, 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

467Fall 2024Skip to data table

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

Undergraduate enrollment at Rust College fell from 899 (Fall 2002) to 467 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	899
Fall 2003	966
Fall 2004	971
Fall 2005	935
Fall 2006	911
Fall 2007	967
Fall 2008	942
Fall 2009	1,072
Fall 2010	960
Fall 2011	922
Fall 2012	934
Fall 2013	922
Fall 2014	963
Fall 2015	856
Fall 2016	1,004
Fall 2017	860
Fall 2018	846
Fall 2019	738
Fall 2020	623
Fall 2021	768
Fall 2022	731
Fall 2023	428
Fall 2024	467

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

84%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 Rust College rose from 57% (Fall 2003) to 66% (Fall 2021).

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2003 cohort	57%
Fall 2004 cohort	54%
Fall 2005 cohort	54%
Fall 2006 cohort	63%
Fall 2007 cohort	51%
Fall 2008 cohort	48%
Fall 2009 cohort	57%
Fall 2010 cohort	53%
Fall 2011 cohort	66%
Fall 2012 cohort	63%
Fall 2013 cohort	71%
Fall 2014 cohort	51%
Fall 2015 cohort	62%
Fall 2016 cohort	76%
Fall 2017 cohort	49%
Fall 2018 cohort	44%
Fall 2019 cohort	56%
Fall 2020 cohort	55%
Fall 2021 cohort	66%
Fall 2022 cohort	—
Fall 2023 cohort	84%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2003–2023

More about Rust College

Faculty pay at Rust College averages $61,152 a year, annualized from reported monthly pay. Carnegie classes Rust College as a primarily nonresidential campus — most of its 467 undergraduates live off campus, and 84.4% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Rust College reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 48.7%. Review Rust College's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

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 Rust 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

Rust College48.7%

Mississippi median77.6%

National median76.8%

Tuition

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

Rust College$13,265

Mississippi median$10,202

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

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

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

Rust College$32,275

Mississippi median$42,539

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Rust College, Mississippi and national reference values
Metric & basis	Rust College	Mississippi median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	48.7%	77.6%	76.8%
TuitionScorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$13,265	$10,202	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$32,275	$42,539	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Rust College, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Rust College federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 3 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Journalism	$41,398
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$35,634
Biology, General	$33,981

These 3 fields listed for Rust College measure earnings after completion. The $32,275 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 14 additional Rust College fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Rust College report?

Rust College did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 48.7% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is Rust College's acceptance rate?

48.7% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 1,853 admitted from 3,807 applicants.

How much does Rust College cost?

At Rust College, tuition is $13,265. Tuition is not the total cost of attendance; aid can reduce your bill.

What earnings data does Rust College report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $32,275. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

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: 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. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.