Rust College
Rust College is a private, non-profit HBCU in Holly Springs, Mississippi, founded in 1866, offering 28 undergraduate degree programs across five academic divisions to approximately 400 students via on-campus, RC Online, and weekend/evening modalities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1866
- HeadquartersHolly Springs, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Rust College does
Rust College is a private, non-profit Historically Black College or University (HBCU) founded in 1866 by the Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church and located in Holly Springs, Mississippi. It is Mississippi's oldest HBCU and the state's second-oldest private college, currently affiliated with the United Methodist Church and operating under SACSCOC accreditation to award associate and baccalaureate degrees, plus CSWE accreditation for its B.S.W. Social Work program. The institution enrolls 400+ students across 28 degree programs organized into five academic divisions (Business, Education, Humanities, Science & Mathematics, and Social Sciences) with a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio.
The college's core product portfolio spans traditional on-campus undergraduate programs, the RC Online distance-learning platform (Business Administration, General Education, Religion), a Weekend B.S.W. Social Work program for working professionals, and a new Cybersecurity Workforce Development program. Technology infrastructure centers on the Blackboard LMS, Microsoft Office 365, Calendly scheduling, the Bearcat Self-Service portal, and Bearcat Navigate360 for student success, complemented by the Leontyne Price Library (with Bloomberg Finance Lab, ProQuest, JSTOR, Magnolia, and OPAC). Revenue derives from tuition and fees (with published 2025-2026 cost-of-attendance schedules), philanthropic donations through the Advancement office (DonorPerfect giving portal), intercollegiate athletics (HBCUAC conference), and external grants including NSF HBCU-UP funding.
Distribution spans direct enrollment on the Holly Springs campus, RC Online multi-state online delivery via SARA authorization (July 2023), weekend/evening programs targeting non-traditional adult learners in Headstart, child care, and social service agencies, dual enrollment partnerships with high schools, and a secondary cybersecurity training facility in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Customer segments include traditional first-time freshmen, transfer students, international (F-1) students, non-traditional adult learners, and dual-enrolled high school students. As of August 11, 2025, the college is led by its 13th president, Dr. Johnny M. Moore.
Rust College firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Rust College
- Legal name
- Rust College
- Website
- https://rustcollege.edu
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1866
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Rust College is a private, non-profit HBCU in Holly Springs, Mississippi, founded in 1866, offering 28 undergraduate degree programs across five academic divisions to approximately 400 students via on-campus, RC Online, and weekend/evening modalities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Rust College industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Nonprofit HBCUs (EDAHAMAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Historically Black Liberal Arts Colleges (EDAHACAD), Teaching-Focused & Liberal Arts HBCUs (EDAHAMAF), Faith-Based & Religious-Affiliated HBCUs (EDAHAMAG)
Keywords
Where Rust College is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Holly Springs
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Rust College business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Tuition and Fees: Revenue from undergraduate tuition, application fees ($25 domestic, $50 international), housing fees, and course-related fees. Tuition schedule available for 2025-2026 academic year.
- Donations and Advancement: Philanthropic contributions through the Advancement office, with giving portal accepting donations via DonorPerfect
- Athletics Revenue: Intercollegiate athletics programs generating revenue through HBCUAC conference participation
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Online Undergraduate Programs |
| Subscription | Annual | On-Campus Programs |
| Subscription | Annual | Weekend/Evening Programs |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Rust College product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Rust College is a private, nonprofit Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Holly Springs, Mississippi, delivering undergraduate liberal arts education through five academic divisions (Business, Education, Humanities, Science & Mathematics, Social Sciences) totaling 28 degree programs. Programs are delivered on-campus, via RC Online (distance learning), and through weekend/evening formats for non-traditional and adult learners. The institution is SACSCOC-accredited and affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
Product overview
Rust College is a higher education institution offering a portfolio of undergraduate degree programs across five academic divisions (Business, Education, Humanities, Science & Mathematics, and Social Sciences) through both traditional on-campus and online delivery via the RC Online platform. The institution provides 28 degree programs including bachelor's degrees in fields such as Business Administration, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Social Work, and Religion, as well as associate degrees. Specialized programs include a Weekend B.S.W. Social Work Program for working professionals and various certificate programs in areas such as cybersecurity. Student support infrastructure includes the Leontyne Price Library with Bloomberg Finance Lab and research databases, and the Student Success & Persistence Program (SSPP) for academic development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- RC Online: Rust College's online learning platform offering 100% online degree programs including Business Administration, General Education, and Bachelor of Arts in Religion.
Products and services
- RC Online
Quantifiable outcome
- 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized attention
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Rust College
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Rust College technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature3 records
Rust College partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Memphis Annual Conference, United Methodist ChurchcoreChurch affiliation partnership providing internship placements, field education sites, guest lecturers, and denominational connections for religion and ministry students
- Memphis Theological SeminaryminorGraduate school articulation agreement and potential for adjunct faculty sharing for religion program students
- HBCU Religious Studies NetworkminorCollaborative curriculum development and faculty sharing among HBCUs with religious studies programs
- CLOUD901minorPartnership for IoT and STEAM workshop programming, Color Your World - EM teen workshop for youth technology engagement
- Local Holly Springs and Marshall County CongregationscoreService-learning and community ministry projects connecting students with local faith communities for practical experience
- Local Social Service AgenciescorePracticum and internship sites for social work students providing experiential learning opportunities in child welfare, housing, and community services
- Mississippi Valley State UniversityminorAcademic partnership for band program leadership and student performance opportunities
- NASAminorNASA Mars InSight InSight Seers program and NASA Summer Faculty Research Fellow opportunities for faculty and students
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Rust College competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- LeMoyne-Owen College: Private, historically Black liberal arts college in Memphis, Tennessee. Comparable in mission, scale, United Methodist heritage, and small-residential profile to Rust College.
- Lane College: Private, United Methodist-affiliated HBCU in Jackson, Tennessee. Comparable in religious heritage, small private college profile, and liberal arts undergraduate focus.
- Benedict College: Private, historically Black liberal arts college in Columbia, South Carolina, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Comparable on denominational ties, liberal arts focus, and private HBCU positioning.
- Paine College: Private, United Methodist-affiliated HBCU in Augusta, Georgia. Highly comparable on denominational affiliation, liberal arts curriculum, and small private HBCU operating model.
- Stillman College: Private, historically Black liberal arts college in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Direct peer on size, denominational affiliation, and liberal arts mission.
- Allen University: Private, historically Black liberal arts university in Columbia, South Carolina, affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Comparable on small private HBCU mission and liberal arts curriculum.
- Tougaloo College: Private, nonprofit historically Black liberal arts college located in Tougaloo, Mississippi. Directly comparable to Rust College in mission, size, religious heritage, and Mississippi HBCU positioning.
- Livingstone College: Private, historically Black liberal arts college in Salisbury, North Carolina, affiliated with the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church. Comparable on small private HBCU liberal arts model.
- Philander Smith College: Private, United Methodist-affiliated HBCU liberal arts college in Little Rock, Arkansas. Strongly comparable on religious affiliation, liberal arts focus, and small-institution profile — and notably where Rust's new president previously served.
Broad incumbents
- Dillard University: Private, historically Black university in New Orleans, Louisiana, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Comparable on religious affiliation and HBCU liberal arts focus, but larger and more established than Rust.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Rust College social profiles
Digital presenceRust College compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Rust College financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Rust College leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Rust College funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Rust College M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Rust College
What does Rust College do?
Rust College is a private, nonprofit Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in Holly Springs, Mississippi, delivering undergraduate liberal arts education through five academic divisions (Business, Education, Humanities, Science & Mathematics, Social Sciences) totaling 28 degree programs. Programs are delivered on-campus, via RC Online (distance learning), and through weekend/evening formats for non-traditional and adult learners. The institution is SACSCOC-accredited and affiliated with the United Methodist Church.
Is Rust College a public or private company?
Rust College is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Rust College founded?
Rust College was founded in 1866.
Where is Rust College based?
Rust College is headquartered in Holly Springs, United States, in the North America region.
How does Rust College make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition and Fees are the primary driver. The others are donations and Advancement and athletics Revenue.
Who are Rust College's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are LeMoyne-Owen College, Lane College, Benedict College, Paine College, Stillman College, Allen University, Tougaloo College, Livingstone College and Philander Smith College. Dillard University is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Rust College have an API?
No public API is recorded for Rust College.
What industry is Rust College in?
Rust College's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAMAB, Private Nonprofit HBCUs, with a secondary code of EDAHACAD, Historically Black Liberal Arts Colleges. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.