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McPherson College

McPherson, Kansas 67460-1402

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Data last updated: May 29, 2026

Campus Vibe

Tight-knitCollege town

Known for business — close-knit campus

McPherson College is a private institution in McPherson with particular strength in business and biology. With an average SAT of 1068, the school attracts a broad applicant pool.

A small campus of 786 undergraduates with a 13:1 student-faculty ratio. The town location creates a classic college-town feel.

52% of students graduate within four years, and graduates earn a median of $52,084 a decade after enrollment. Net price after aid averages $24,837.

Established
1887
Mascot
Ben the Bulldog
Type
Private college
Conference
National Association of

Plan Your Visit

84%Acceptance
1068SAT Avg
786Students
13:1Student:Faculty
52%Grad Rate
$52,084Earnings 10yr
$24,837Net Price

Admissions

Acceptance Rate83.8%

SAT Score Ranges

Average: 1068

Reading & Writing
468573
Math
468553

ACT Score Range

Composite
1724

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard / IPEDS.

Cost & Financial Aid

Sticker Price

Tuition$35,162
Room & Board$10,322
Books & Supplies$1,420
Total Cost of Attendance$48,404
Average Net Price$24,837
Median Debt at Graduation$25,242
Monthly Payment (10yr)$268

Net Price by Family Income

$0–30K$20,869
$30–48K$21,172
$48–75K$25,387
$75–110K$27,314
$110K+$28,232

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Net price reflects most recent cohort of federally-aided undergraduates.

Debt & Aid Detail

Net Price Trend

Tuition Trend

Graduate w/ Zero Debt

36.0%

Avg Tuition Increase

5.0%/yr

Median Debt at Grad

$13,833

Campus Safety

Total Incidents (2024)

5

Peer Average

3

3-Year Trend

Emergency System

Campus security, emergency notification system

Incident Breakdown (2024)

1

Burglary

0

Aggravated Assault

0

Robbery

0

Motor Vehicle Theft

1

Sex Offenses

0

Arson

2

Drug Arrests

1

Liquor Arrests

Source: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety & Security data (Clery Act, 2024 reporting year).

Programs (39)

Student Life

Student Satisfaction

Retention Rate

65%

Below Average

Student Body

Undergrads
786
Gender Split
33% / 67%
Women / Men
First Generation
31%
Pell Grant Recipients
34%

Race & Ethnicity

White 52%
Black 12%
Hispanic 17%
Asian 2%
Two+ 1%
Int'l 6%

Outcomes

4-Year Graduation Rate52.0%
Freshman Retention64.7%

Median Earnings After Graduation

6 Years$41,446
10 Years$52,084

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Earnings reflect federally-aided students 6 and 10 years after entry.

More About This School

History & Fun Facts

  • History During their 1887 annual meeting, the Church of the Brethren recognized the need for a college west of the Mississippi River to serve the educational desires of settlers moving westward.
  • The first academic semester opened on 5 September 1888, with 60 students and a faculty of seven.
  • By the end of the first school year nearly 200 students had enrolled and the foundation had been laid for the main building.
  • In 1898, Sharp Hall was completed, though it had been used for school purposes for some time while still incomplete.
  • On 12 February 1898, the school was officially christened McPherson College.

Source: Wikipedia

Location & Lifestyle

Cost of Living

89Low

Estimated from KS state average

Climate (School Year)

Snowfall: 30"Sunny days: 200Rainy days: 125

Nearest Cities

Kansas Citypop. 500K
173 mi(300 min)
Dallaspop. 1.3M
389 mi(674 min)
St. Louispop. 290K
403 mi(699 min)

Getting There

Nearest Airports

MCI Kansas City170 mi
OKC Oklahoma City206 mi
DFW Dallas-Fort Worth380 mi

Distance to Cities

Boston, MA1420 mi · ~41h 1m drive
New York, NY1266 mi · ~36h 34m drive
Hartford, CT1336 mi · ~38h 36m drive
Providence, RI1401 mi · ~40h 28m drive
Albany, NY1284 mi · ~37h 6m drive
Syracuse, NY1168 mi · ~33h 45m drive
Rochester, NY1096 mi · ~31h 40m drive
Buffalo, NY1030 mi · ~29h 45m drive
Philadelphia, PA1206 mi · ~34h 50m drive
Pittsburgh, PA951 mi · ~27h 28m drive
Harrisburg, PA1115 mi · ~32h 13m drive
Newark, NJ1257 mi · ~36h 19m drive
Washington, DC1110 mi · ~32h 4m drive
Baltimore, MD1131 mi · ~32h 40m drive
Atlanta, GA805 mi · ~23h 15m drive
Charlotte, NC953 mi · ~27h 32m drive
Raleigh, NC1061 mi · ~30h 39m drive
Miami, FL1339 mi · ~38h 41m drive
Orlando, FL1155 mi · ~33h 22m drive
Tampa, FL1133 mi · ~32h 44m drive
Nashville, TN616 mi · ~17h 48m drive
New Orleans, LA725 mi · ~20h 57m drive
Richmond, VA1100 mi · ~31h 47m drive
Chicago, IL581 mi · ~16h 47m drive
Detroit, MI815 mi · ~23h 33m drive
Minneapolis, MN509 mi · ~14h 42m drive
St. Louis, MO403 mi · ~11h 39m drive
Kansas City, MO173 mi · ~5h drive
Indianapolis, IN623 mi · ~18h drive
Columbus, OH791 mi · ~22h 51m drive
Cleveland, OH871 mi · ~25h 10m drive
Milwaukee, WI603 mi · ~17h 25m drive
Dallas, TX389 mi · ~11h 14m drive
Houston, TX609 mi · ~17h 36m drive
Austin, TX560 mi · ~16h 11m drive
San Antonio, TX620 mi · ~17h 55m drive
Los Angeles, CA1184 mi · ~34h 12m drive
San Francisco, CA1344 mi · ~38h 50m drive
San Diego, CA1162 mi · ~33h 34m drive
Seattle, WA1393 mi · ~40h 15m drive
Portland, OR1371 mi · ~39h 36m drive
Denver, CO405 mi · ~11h 42m drive
Phoenix, AZ875 mi · ~25h 17m drive
Salt Lake City, UT776 mi · ~22h 25m drive
Honolulu, HI3728 mi · ~107h 42m drive
Mid-Atlantic / Central (moderate winters, warm summers)

Visit Planning

Deadline Calendar

McPherson College Application Checklist

Decision Notifications