Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Rust College #892 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,661 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rust College in the 19.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Rust College #1085 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions. ---
Azimuth ranks Rust College #892 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private baccalaureate college in Holly Springs, Mississippi, Rust College enrolls roughly 467 undergraduates. The institution serves a student body with substantial financial need: 71.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 46.0% are first-generation college students. Retention stands at 84.4% and the six-year graduation rate is 11.8%, reflecting the institution's commitment to supporting students through degree completion. Rust College anchors its composite strength in return on investment and mobility outcomes. Azimuth ranks Rust College #1409 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,661 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rust College in the 19.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's ability to move students from low-income and first-generation backgrounds into careers with meaningful long-term financial trajectories — a pattern that defines Rust College's educational mission. The institution's program portfolio centers on Communication, a field that aligns with both student interests and regional labor-market demand. As a smaller, mission-driven baccalaureate institution, Rust College provides personalized pathways to degree completion and career entry for students who might otherwise face barriers to higher education. The combination of broad access, strong graduation support, and earnings outcomes that exceed expectations for similar students positions Rust College as a meaningful option for low-income and first-generation students seeking both affordability and durable financial returns.
Rust College's published cost of attendance is $23,107. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,546, middle-income families pay around $13,878, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,356. Azimuth ranks Rust College #342 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. Rust College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The difference between published sticker price and actual net price can be substantial—see the net price illusion for how that gap shapes affordability decisions. Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and aid packages are determined based on demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,159, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $5,287; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures—see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $41,313, median federal debt of $26,159 projects to a monthly payment of about $296 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios—including Parent PLUS planning—use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Rust College is a good fit for students interested in communication and related fields who want a private liberal arts college experience in MS. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $41,313, placing Rust College in the 1.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They earn about $10,661 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Rust College in the 19.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a significant share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 71.5% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 46.0% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Rust College in the 4.2 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions, a historical 10-year Scorecard measure. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 48.7% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors communication and liberal arts fields. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find a supportive environment focused on upward mobility.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Rust College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Rust College's published cost of attendance is $23,107. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $12,546, middle-income families pay around $13,878, and higher-income families pay approximately $18,356.
Azimuth ranks Rust College #342 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.
Rust College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The difference between published sticker price and actual net price can be substantial—see the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) for how that gap shapes affordability decisions.
Families apply for aid using the FAFSA, and aid packages are determined based on demonstrated financial need. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $26,159, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $5,287; 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 $41,313, median federal debt of $26,159 projects to a monthly payment of about $296 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 Rust College earn median 4-year earnings of $41,313, placing Rust College in the 1.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,661 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 19.3 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Rust College #1409 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Program outcomes vary by major.
Journalism reports 30 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $41,398. Biology, General reports 25 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $33,981.
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods reports 14 graduates and median 4-year earnings of $35,634.
Journalism
30 graduates
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
14 graduates
Biology, General
25 graduates
Rust College's program mix centers on communication and education fields, reflecting the institution's liberal arts identity and regional mission. Teacher Education is the largest program with 30 graduates, followed by Biology, General with 25 graduates, Teacher Education with 14 graduates, Sociology with 11 graduates, and Business Administration with 11 graduates.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 111 students annually, the institution's strongest earnings outcomes cluster in specific fields. The highest-earning programs at Rust College reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings signal labor-market entry.
Journalism graduates earn median earnings of $41,398 four years after enrollment, representing the institution's strongest earnings outcome. Teacher Education follows with median earnings of $35,634, and Biology, General with median earnings of $33,981.
Teacher Education, the largest program by enrollment, generates median earnings of $41,398 four years after enrollment, anchoring the institution's earnings profile in education and workforce-development fields. The concentration in Communication and education-adjacent majors positions Rust College as an institution focused on preparing educators and communication professionals for regional labor markets.
These fields represent stable, in-demand career pathways where graduates typically enter the workforce directly rather than pursuing graduate study. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how education and communication fields align with regional and national workforce needs.
Explore alternatives with comparable outcomes based on location, selectivity, and value:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Le Moyne-Owen College Higher acceptance rate (62.5 percentage points higher) and located 41 miles away; similar graduate earnings | TN | 97% | $35,594 | Compare |
Talladega College Higher acceptance rate (64.6 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | AL | 99% | $32,229 | Compare |
Trinity College Of Florida Higher acceptance rate (61.6 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | FL | 96% | $32,465 | Compare |
Le Moyne-Owen College Same region (41 miles away) (earnings difference: 10.3%); same institution type | TN | 97% | $35,594 | Compare |
Alcorn State University Same state (earnings difference: 12.8%) and similar program focus | MS | 25% | $36,421 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grace Christian University Similar quality tier (#29334 ranked) | MI | 99% | $41,663 | #29334 | Compare |
Lakeland University Similar quality tier (#29335 ranked) | WI | 86% | $55,961 | #29335 | Compare |
Bushnell University Similar quality tier (#29332 ranked) | OR | 67% | $53,623 | #29332 | Compare |
Saint Joseph's College Of Maine Similar quality tier (#29323 ranked) | ME | 84% | $59,045 | #29323 | Compare |
Georgetown College Similar quality tier in Southeast (#29347 ranked) | KY | 91% | $52,074 | #29347 | Compare |
