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Mars Hill , NC
Mars Hill University is a private liberal arts university located in Mars Hill, North Carolina. Founded in 1856, it is one of the oldest educational institutions in the state. With a strong commitment to providing a well-rounded education rooted in the liberal arts, Mars Hill University offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs to a diverse student population.
At Mars Hill University, students have the opportunity to pursue bachelor's degrees in over 30 majors, ranging from business and education to arts and sciences. The university strives to foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment, where students are encouraged to engage in critical thinking, participate in research, and develop lifelong skills. With small class sizes and personalized attention from faculty members, students benefit from individualized instruction and mentorship opportunities.
Beyond academics, Mars Hill University offers a vibrant campus life, with numerous extracurricular activities and organizations for students to get involved in. The university is a member of NCAA Division II and competes in various sports, including football, basketball, and soccer. Students can also join various clubs, fraternities, and sororities to engage in community service, leadership development, and social activities. With its beautiful location in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Mars Hill University provides students with a picturesque setting for both academic and personal pursuits.
Mars Hill University is a private comprehensive higher education institution located in Mars Hill, NC. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 68%. The freshman retention rate at Mars Hill University is 69% and the six-year graduation rate is 47%.
Read more about what Mars Hill University has to offer based on the most recent data this institution has reported.
Quick Facts
1,062
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
$38,868
Tuition
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
47%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
In order to improve your chances of getting admitted, you need to know as much as possible about the school's criteria for admission. Discover some relevant facts about admission at Mars Hill University.
In 2025, the school accepted 1,110 new students.
Test Scores
Out of the number of those who submitted test scores, the percentage of first-time, first-year degree-seeking students who submitted SAT scores was 9% and ACT scores 20%. 2% of the enrolled students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 13% between 1,200 and 1,399, 49% between 1,000 and 1,199, 28% between 800 and 999, and 10% of the students between 600 and 799. The percent of first-year students who submitted ACT Composite scores in the range between 30-36 was 6, 33 between 24-29, 47 in the range between 18-23, and 14 between 12-17.
The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.6. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Mars Hill University.
Retention Rate
The percentage of first-year students at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. Why is that information important? Because it tells you if the majority of freshmen enjoyed their first year at a school enough to come back.
As reported in 2025, the freshman retention rate for Mars Hill University was 69%.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This rate shows how many students complete their degrees in a certain number of years. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 47%.
Student Body
Choosing a school that is the best fit for you is not a simple task. You can have a better understanding of the school's culture and way of life by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Mars Hill University in 2025 was 1,111.
That year, the institution had an out-of-state student body percentage of 35. There was a total of 1,062 undergrad students, including 59 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 60.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 525 male and 499 female full-time students in 2025. This school had 9 full-time graduate male and 12 full-time graduate female students at this school.
Student Population Diversity
When it comes to improving a sense of inclusion and belonging among students, there is no denying the importance of student diversity. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Learn more about all the ethnic communities you might encounter at this institution.
This school had 11 Asian students and 162 Afro-American students in 2025. 98 undergraduate students at this school identified as Hispanic/Latino and 1 identified with more than one race. The school also had 4 students who identified as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, as well as 14 American Indian or Alaska Native students. There were also 27 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Before submitting an application to any college or university, the financial component should be taken into consideration. Here are some details you should know about the expenses at Mars Hill University that the majority of students face.
Tuition and Fees
If you were wondering how much the tuition cost for Mars Hill University is, here are some recent data that will come in handy.
Tuition fees per academic year for full-time domestic students were $38,868 in 2025. Mars Hill University is a private institution, so tuition is the same for all the accepted students.
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
In 2025, room and board cost at Mars Hill University amounted to $12,626 a year. The cost of a dorm room only at this school in 2025 reached $9,076 for one academic year. The estimated expense of room-only (on campus) for commuters not living at home was also $9,076.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 38,868 |
| Room and Board | $ 12,626 |
| Total Expense | $ 51,494 |
Financial Aid
Obtaining some financial aid in forms of grants, loans, scholarships or work-study programs can be vital for completing your studies. Check out some recent data to get the information about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Mars Hill University.
According to the most recent data, 269 freshmen were awarded financial aid. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $32,639.
Need-based
If you need help with paying for your studies and you meet some eligibility requirements, you may be eligible for need-based aid.
There were 618 students who attained need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need ended up being 772. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $2,806,684, and state $878,673.
$25,223
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based financial aid is any type of financial aid provided to a student who does not meet the criteria for need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 772 students overall (including freshmen) at Mars Hill University in 2025. Institutional grants or scholarships that are not based on financial need were given to 269 full-time freshman. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $1,750,808. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. $715,330 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
13:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
Knowing more about a school's faculty can help you gauge the caliber of the education it can provide to you.
According to the most recent data, the student-faculty ratio at Mars Hill University was 13:1: that means 13 students per one teacher, which is considered a good ratio. According to the most recent information, there are 105 faculty members at this school. This number included 48 men and 56 women. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Mars Hill University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Mars Hill University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some details about students' life at Mars Hill University.
Its campus is 194 acres in size.
Student Organizations
Being a member of a student organization will make you connect better with your fellow students and enjoy your college years more.
There are 51 student organizations and groups with open membership at this school. That includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization that is most favored by students is Campus Engagement and Leadership, followed by Fraternity/Sorority and FCA. Other popular organizations among the students at Mars Hill University are Bonner and ESports.
If you are interested in music, you can join the Mars Hill University band or chorus. For students with a talent for acting, there is a drama club.
Student Services
Mars Hill University offers a number of services crucial for a comfortable and secure life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. The school has electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a 24-hour security patrol. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
There is a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. All in all, campus life at Mars Hill University is rich and vibrant and provides everything most students need.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Mars Hill University.
Career Counselling
At Mars Hill University, there is both group career counseling for all students and individual career counseling for all students. There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. The school has campus employer recruitment for all the students. This school offers alumni networking opportunities, which could be highly beneficial for your future career. Individual job placement is available to all students at this school.
FAQ
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Mars Hill University is located in Mars Hill, NC.
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According to the latest information, the tuition for Mars Hill University is 38,868 USD a year.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Mars Hill University is 68%.
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The most recent reported freshman retention rate for Mars Hill University is 69%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.