Non-Profit Private
Accredited · Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Holly Springs, Mississippi
34.7% Acceptance Rate
Rust College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
34.7%Acceptance Rate
2.66Avg GPA
890Avg SAT
$18,448Annual Cost
$32,275Grad Salary
68.8%Pell Grant
Acceptance Rate
34.7%
Avg GPA
2.66
Avg SAT
890
Selectivity
Selective
Institution Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
SAT Middle 50%
850–920
Need-Based Aid
68.8% receive Pell
Rust College is a private, historically black, liberal arts institution in Mississippi affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Committed to academic excellence and student success, the college provides a supportive environment that fosters leadership, research, and professional preparation. With a long legacy of empowering students from diverse backgrounds, Rust College serves as a vital resource for those seeking a high-value degree and a transformative educational experience rooted in tradition and community values.
Rust College Acceptance Rate
Rust College admits roughly 34.7% of its applicant pool, keeping it competitive without being out of reach for a solid student.
What Rust College Admissions Looks For
- Solid, Not Perfect: A GPA trending upward matters more than one that's flat.
- Holistic Read: Recommendations and community involvement carry real weight here.
Selectivity at a Glance
Selective
Selectivity scale: Selective — 34.7% acceptance rate
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
A GPA a bit under the average isn't disqualifying at this tier. A solid test score or clear leadership record can offset it.
Recommended Academic Profile
Candidate GPA Range
Admission Category
Strategic Requirement
2.66 – 4.00
Target Match
Maintain Rigor & High Testing
2.46 – 2.65
Competitive Reach
Focus on Score Compensation
Below 2.21
Secondary Reach
Requires Contextual Support
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
Rust College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
Rust College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
Rust College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Rust College GPA Requirement
The average GPA of admitted students at Rust College is 2.66. That makes admissions here less selective on GPA specifically. Most admitted students carry a mix of B's and C's.
A solid SAT or ACT score is the fastest way to strengthen an application in this range.
Note the scale: this figure reflects an unweighted 4.0 GPA. Add AP or IB coursework and the equivalent weighted GPA usually lands around 2.86–3.06.Check Your Admission Chances at Rust College
Admission Chance Predictor
Built from Rust College's own verified admissions data — adjust the sliders below
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
✅ Verified Data: Institutional records for 2026.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
Rust College Test Requirements
Scores aren't just a formality at Rust College. Landing within or above the 2026 admitted class's middle 50% keeps you fully competitive, even where submission is optional.
Can I Get Into Rust College Without SAT or ACT?
Rust College considers scores when submitted, without requiring them. Prepare well and submit your best attempt. Most applicants test 2–3 times.
Rust College Average SAT Score: 890
Admitted students at Rust College average a 890 SAT (out of 1600).
SAT Competitiveness
SAT 890 — Accessible
A 890 average means even a modest SAT score can strengthen your application.
Key Insight: Aim for the 75th percentile (920 SAT) to stand out. Below average? Rust College allows Score Choice for the SAT, so a retake only helps — a low sitting never has to be sent.
Scored under 850? A retake is worth it at Rust College. Two or three sittings is standard for competitive applicants, and there's no cap on how many times you can test.
SAT Scores Breakdown by Sections
| Section | Average | 25th Percentile | 75th Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Math | - | - | - |
| SAT Reading | - | - | - |
| SAT Composite | 890 | 850 | 920 |
A score under 850 puts you in the lower quarter of admits; 920+ puts you ahead of three-quarters of the admitted class. (These percentiles mark where a given share of the admitted class scored at or below.)
View list of all colleges with average SAT score of 900
Can I get into Rust College with a 900 SAT?
At 900, your SAT is squarely in Rust College's favor. That said, admissions staff read the full file. GPA, activities, and essays still carry real weight even with a strong score in hand.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for Rust College
Selective Strategy: Competitive Positioning
Competitive positioning at Rust College means clearing the academic bar comfortably, then using the rest of your application to show genuine fit.
Front-load the module clock
Rust runs on a 5-6 module (8-week) academic calendar, not standard semesters. A rough first module hits your cumulative GPA far harder than a rough first semester would elsewhere, and it also affects financial-aid satisfactory-progress checks sooner. If you're a borderline applicant, apply for the earliest module you can (don't wait for the Jun 30/Nov 30/Mar 30 windows to close) so you have breathing room to recover if module one doesn't go well.
Let your GPA trend carry the file
Rust is test-optional and its admitted middle-50% SAT band runs 440-1339 - evaluators are reading transcripts, not score reports. If your GPA rose over time (a common profile for first-gen applicants), add a one-paragraph "additional information" note on the app explaining the upward trend explicitly; Rust's committee weighs trajectory more than most peer HBCUs because of its open-to-moderately-selective model.
Use the UMC affiliation as a scholarship lever
Rust is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. If you or your family have any UMC congregation ties, get a reference letter from your pastor even though it isn't required - Methodist-affiliated scholarship committees at Rust specifically look for demonstrated denominational or community-church involvement when allocating institutional aid, and this signal rarely comes through the standard application.
Ask about the Adult Pathway Program early if you're 21+
If you're a non-traditional applicant with 45+ transferable credit hours (business track), Rust's evening Adult Pathway Program lets you finish the Business Administration BS while working days - but you have to specifically request evening/accelerated advising at intake, since the general admissions office defaults everyone into the standard day-track pipeline.
Expert Insight:
Because Rust's posted deadlines (Jun 30 fall / Nov 30 spring / Mar 30 summer) are unusually late and rolling, many applicants treat it as a fallback and apply at the last minute - but on-campus housing is capped at roughly 900 beds and Rust requires all non-local first- and second-years to live on campus. Apply and submit your housing form months before the nominal deadline, not at it, or you risk being admitted with no dorm placement.
Rust College Profile
Full Name
Rust College
City
Holly Springs
State
Mississippi
ZIP Code
38635
Type
Non-Profit Private
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCC)
Is a Rust College Degree Worth It?
At $18,448/year against a $32,275 median graduate salary, Rust College is worth weighing against your specific program and financial situation. The numbers below give you a real basis for that decision.
Admitted students' families report a median household income around $41,300, and graduates see a 6.04% unemployment rate.
How much does a degree from Rust College Cost?
Listed tuition runs $18,448/year at Rust College. Factor in Pell and federal grant aid, and most students land typically much lower.
At Rust College, 68.8% receive a Pell Grant and 63.5% carry federal loans. Filing FAFSA early and naming Rust College on it improves your shot at both.
How much does a Rust College Graduate earn?
Ten years out from enrollment, Rust College graduates report a median income of $32,275, somewhat below the U.S. median graduate income of $40,595.
Compare Similar Colleges
Less Competitive Schools
These schools have lower average SAT or ACT scores than Rust College. If your SAT or ACT score is slightly lower, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallaudet University | Washington, DC | 857 | 16 |
| Fort Valley State University | Fort Valley, GA | 864 | 18 |
| Virginia Union University | Richmond, VA | 860 | NA |
| Chamberlain University-Illinois | Addison, IL | 868 | 16 |
Equally Competitive Schools
These schools have the same range of average SAT or ACT scores as Rust College. If your SAT or ACT score is competitive, you'll be competitive for these schools also.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bennett College | Greensboro, NC | 890 | NA |
More Competitive Schools
These schools have higher average SAT or ACT scores than Rust College. If you improve your SAT or ACT score, you'll be competitive for these schools.
| School | Location | SAT | ACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama A & M University | Normal, AL | 947 | 17 |
| Johnson University Florida | Kissimmee, FL | 940 | NA |
| Warner University | Lake Wales, FL | 937 | 17 |
| Gordon State College | Barnesville, GA | 950 | 18 |
| Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College | Saint Mary of the Woods, IN | 966 | 17 |
Degree Programs at Rust College
Bachelor Degree Programs
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About Rust College Admissions
Rust College graduates earn a lower median salary of $32,275/year, especially outside technical fields.
Tuition at Rust College is relatively affordable, around $18,448/year.
68.8% of Rust College students receive a Pell Grant, which is need-based aid you don't repay. File your FAFSA early and list Rust College as a choice for the best shot at maximum aid.
Rust College's acceptance rate is 34.7%, comparatively higher than most selective universities. Admission is more attainable here.
The average GPA of admitted Rust College students is 2.66, reflecting a competitive applicant pool.
There's no strict cutoff, but a GPA at or above 2.36 puts you in the standard applicant pool at Rust College. Below that, your essays and recommendations need to work harder to provide context.
A GPA of 2.26 or below makes admission tougher at Rust College, but strong test scores, activities, and essays, plus AP/IB coursework, can still keep you in contention.
Rust College weighs the SAT heavily. Scoring above 890, and within the 850–920 range, keeps you competitive.
Rust College follows Rolling Admissions. Applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
Rust College charges an application fee of 25; ask admissions about waiver eligibility if cost is a barrier.
For priority financial aid consideration, get your FAFSA in before March 1, 2026. That's Rust College's scholarship priority date.
Transferring in is a well-trodden path here. Line up your transcripts, recommendations, and a strong personal statement before applying.
The biggest levers are academic performance, a clear extracurricular focus, and essays that stand out, plus a solid test score where the school considers one.
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