Mount Holyoke College vs Principia College
Mount Holyoke College and Principia College, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Mount Holyoke, a private liberal arts college in South Hadley, Massachusetts, boasts a long history of academic excellence and a strong focus on women's education. Principia College, a private Christian college in Elsah, Illinois, emphasizes spiritual growth and service to others within a supportive community. While both colleges share a commitment to providing a high-quality education, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comparison table below to discover which college better aligns with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
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![]() Mount Holyoke College |
![]() Principia College |
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Overview |
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Location | South Hadley, Massachusetts | Elsah, Illinois |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Rural: Fringe |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Private (Non Profit) | Private (Non Profit) |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate |
Students retention rate | 91.0% | 81.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
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Admission |
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Acceptance rate | 52.3% | 84.1% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$60
Graduate:
$50
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SAT range | 1300 - 1510 | 1028 - 1193 |
ACT range | 31 - 35 | 21 - 28 |
Students submitting SAT score | 24.0% | 30.0% |
Students submitting ACT score | 11.0% | 13.0% |
Total number of applicants | 3,971 | 138 |
Total number of admissions given out | 2,077 | 116 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 608 | 79 |
Yield rate | 29.3% | 68.1% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Not required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Not required |
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Tuition and Fees |
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Sticker price | $73,438 | $42,820 |
Average net price | $29,218 | $19,816 |
Tuition | $56,300 | $29,970 |
Room & board |
Room/dormitory:
$8,320
Meal plan:
$8,260
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Room/dormitory:
$5,810
Meal plan:
$6,460
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Available payment plans |
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Financial Aid |
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Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
100.0%
Average amount $30,351 |
94.0%
Average amount $25,174 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
42.0%
Average amount $4,906 |
0.0%
Average amount $0 |
Students taking out private loans |
7.0%
Average amount $4,982 |
94.0%
Average amount $2,016 |
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Students and Campus |
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Undergraduate students |
2,220
Men 0.1% Women 99.9% |
321
Men 53.0% Women 47.0% |
Graduate students |
122
Men 13.1% Women 86.9% |
N/A |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
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Low
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Out-of-state students | N/A | 92.7% |
International students | 23.1% | 24.3% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Rural: Fringe |
Dormitory capacity | 2,171 | 585 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | Mississippi New York California Connecticut Florida | Missouri California Texas Illinois Ohio |
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Academics |
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Popular study areas |
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Students to faculty ratio | 10:1 | 5:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Higher Learning Commission |
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Outcome |
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Graduation rate | 85.0% | 85.9% |
Dropout rate | 2.9% | 14.1% |
Transferred out | 11.9% | N/A |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Education, Other (Master's Degrees)
Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees)
Anthropology (Bachelor's Degrees)
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Fine and Studio Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
History (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
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N/A |
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