Head-to-head comparison
Blue Mountain Christian University vs Rust College: which has better ROI?
Option A Blue Mountain, MS
Blue Mountain Christian University
- Net price / year
- $24,016
- Earnings, 10 years
- $40,421
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Holly Springs, MS
Rust College
- Net price / year
- $12,587
- Earnings, 10 years
- $32,275
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Blue Mountain Christian University comes closer — median earnings $40,421 against a $96,064 total, vs $32,275 at Rust College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Blue Mountain Christian University | Rust College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $24,016 | $12,587 |
| Total net cost | $96,064 | $50,348 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $40,421 | $32,275 |
| Median debt | $18,534 | $26,159 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$254,844 | -$372,048 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Blue Mountain Christian University or Rust College?
Rust College, at $12,587 a year after aid versus $24,016 — a gap of $11,429 a year, or $45,716 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Blue Mountain Christian University or Rust College graduates earn more?
Blue Mountain Christian University graduates report a median $40,421 ten years after entry, $8,146 more than the $32,275 at Rust College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Blue Mountain Christian University or Rust College?
Blue Mountain Christian University: its completers carry a median $18,534 in federal loans versus $26,159 at Rust College, a difference of $7,625. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
55% of students finish at Blue Mountain Christian University, against 12% at Rust College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.