Mars Hill University

Mars Hill University's published cost of attendance is $50,099. Net price by income band shows how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $17,021, middle-income families pay around $20,628, and higher-income families pay approximately $21,972.

Azimuth ranks Mars Hill University #710 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Mars Hill University meets demonstrated financial need through a combination of need-based grants, merit scholarships, and federal aid programs. Families apply using the FAFSA, and the university works with students to construct aid packages that combine institutional resources with federal and state support.

The affordability rank reflects both the net-price structure and the debt load graduates carry, which depends on how much students borrow to bridge the gap between net price and their family contribution. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $15,115; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.

For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $50,256, median federal debt of $26,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $294 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Mars Hill University earn median 4-year earnings of $50,256, placing Mars Hill University in the 10.5 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $8,989 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Mars Hill University in the 23.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Mars Hill University #1241 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. These figures represent lifetime returns relative to NC's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $30,928 (the state median earnings of working adults with only a high school credential).

The earnings pattern centers on business and professional fields. Business Administration combines substantial enrollment with solid earnings outcomes, anchoring the institution's return profile.

Business Administration is the largest program with 38 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $57,743, at 0.8x the national benchmark for the field. Psychology, General and Social Work follow as substantial cohorts, with Social Work graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $51,053 at 1.0x the benchmark.

Nursing and $74,707 round out the top programs, with 0.8x benchmark performance. The concentration in Business — representing 19% of degrees — reflects the institution's strategic focus on fields with direct career pathways and employer demand.

Mars Hill University's program mix is anchored in Business and applied professional fields. Business Administration is the largest program with 38 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Social Work, Nursing, and Kinesiology.

The institution's program portfolio reflects a career-focused orientation typical of regional private universities, with Business representing 19% of degrees, Education at 8%, and Arts at 6%. Median earnings four years after enrollment vary meaningfully across the institution's programs.

Nursing graduates earn $74,707 with a cohort of 19 students, while Business Administration graduates earn $57,743 and Social Work graduates earn $51,053. Criminal Justice rounds out the higher-earning programs with median earnings of $41,384 from a cohort of 7.

These earnings patterns reflect the institution's strength in applied business and professional fields where graduates move directly into the workforce. The program mix emphasizes practical, employment-focused preparation across 13 programs.

Most students pursue direct-to-workforce pathways in business, management, and applied professional disciplines rather than graduate-school-dependent fields, which aligns with Mars Hill University's regional positioning and student outcomes. For context on how these fields align with labor-market demand, see the [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).