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Belmont, NC · Mars Hill, NC
| Belmont Abbey College | Mars Hill University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $24,639/yr | $19,910/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $20,610/yr | $17,021/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $26,000 | $26,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $18,868/yr | $17,020/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $21,195/yr | $20,628/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $24,798/yr | $21,637/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $27,059/yr | $21,972/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $276/mo | $276/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $12,974/yr | $12,258/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $9,500/yr | $12,258/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,750/yr | No data reported |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $2,900/yr | $3,000/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $34,788/yr | $50,099/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $19,500/yr | $37,736/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,500/yr | $37,736/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 24% | 46% |
| Students taking federal loans | 48% | 62% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 75% | 68% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 960–1200 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1099 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 18–26 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 17–25 · Math 17–25 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 2,972 | 1,393 |
| Students accepted | 2,686 | 1,085 |
| Students who enrolled | 400 | 318 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 15% | 29% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 33% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 31% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Recommendation letters | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| College-prep program | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Work experience | Not considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Other admission tests | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 47% | 45% |
| Freshmen who come back | 70% | 69% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $47,937/yr | $44,781/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $31,040–$70,419 | $29,922–$60,021 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 44% | 44% |
| White students graduating | 52% | 48% |
| Black students graduating | 21% | 37% |
| Hispanic students graduating | No data reported | 52% |
| Asian students graduating | 42% | No data reported |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $43,816/yr | $35,680/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 70% | 58% |
| Graduate on time | 42% | 34% |
| Pell students who graduate | 40% | 41% |
| First-gen students who finish | 40% | 28% |
| Low-income students who finish | 38% | 29% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 18% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $45,771/yr | $41,050/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Parks, Recreation & Fitness 12% · Liberal Arts & General Studies 11% | Business, Management & Marketing 24% · Health Professions 14% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 11% |
| Most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 24% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 12% of degrees | Health Professions — 14% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Liberal Arts & General Studies — 11% of degrees | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 11% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Health Professions — 10% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 10% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Parks, Recreation & Fitness — 10% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Accounting and Related Services — $55,224/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $63,302/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 7.7% | 14% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 1,276 | 1,044 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 11 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 90 | 49 |
| Average professor pay | $7,019/mo | $5,935/mo |
| Full-time professors | 68% | 62% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges | Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges |
| Median family income | $56,211 | $38,916 |
| Setting | Suburb (midsize) | Rural (fringe) |
| Location | Belmont, NC | Mars Hill, NC |
| Region | Southeast | Southeast |
| Founded | 1876 | 1856 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields | Baccalaureate Colleges: Diverse Fields |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 5.7% | 5.7% |
| Men | 54% | 50% |
| Women | 46% | 50% |
| White students | 64% | 63% |
| Black students | 7.8% | 16% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 10% | 9.5% |
| Asian students | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| Two or more races | 1.8% | 0.1% |
| Other / not reported | 9.6% | 4.9% |
| Special type | Religiously affiliated | None |
| First-generation students | 27% | 34% |
| Part-time students | 3.5% | 4.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 6.3% | 8.9% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $7,400/yr | $15,848/yr |
| Endowment | $13.8M | $60.8M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,157 | 818 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $6,700/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan charge | $5,356/yr | No data reported |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 21 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | Roman Catholic | No data reported |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | Yes | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | Yes | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division II without football | NCAA Division II with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 26 | 21 |
| Student athletes | 957 | 606 |
| Athletic scholarships | $3.1M | $4.7M |
| Athletics budget | $10.8M | $9.1M |
| Athletics revenue | $10.8M | $9.1M |
| Recruiting spend | $60,731 | $50,839 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.