RUST COLLEGE is a historically Black, coeducational, senior liberal arts college founded in 1866 by the Freedman's Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  The College is related to the United Methodist Church, and dedicated to serving students with a variety of academic preparations, through instruction in the humanities, social behavior sciences, natural science, business, technology and education. 

Rust College recognizes the three-fold function of education as being teaching, research, and community service. Its primary mission, however, is teaching. It offers a well-rounded program designed to acquaint students with cultural, moral, and spiritual values, both in theory and in practice.  Rust College provides an opportunity for education to all, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin, or ethnic background.   Rust College maintains an academic environment that fosters a love of learning, a spirit of independent inquiry, the free exchange of ideas, a broad and active Christian life, and a concern for the world at large.  

Rust College's mission is to grant access to higher education for individuals who are, or have potential to be, academically talented, regardless of their social, economic, or educational background.  This mission includes the holistic development of students, with the goal of helping students reach their full potential as human beings by becoming contributing members of society, prepared for life in a pluralistic, complex and technological society, and enabled to understand other cultures.

Rust College is an accredited four year, co-educational, liberal arts college.  It is the oldest of the eleven Historically Black Colleges and Universities related to the United Methodist Church, the second oldest private college in Mississippi, the oldest historically Black College in the State, and one of the remaining five historically Black Colleges in America founded before 1867.

In the early history of Rust College, its first president, the Reverend A.C. McDonald, stated the purpose of Rust College as follows.  It is our aim to not do hot-house work, seeking to hurry students through a college curriculum, as do many mushroom schools in the South, sending them into the battle of life only to disgrace themselves and bring reproach upon the cause of education at large, but take the by far more difficult and tedious plan of trying to lay well a foundation for a broad, thorough, and practical education, such as shall fit our pupils for long lives of usefulness to themselves, their race and the church.

President McDonald gave the criterion for testing this purpose:  "By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them," which is the motto of Rust College, and a good criterion for its purpose.  While the elements of the purpose as originally stated by President McDonald remain in essence, the scope and expression of the purpose have expanded and must be expressed in terms of complexities and demands of education in a more complex and sophisticated society.

RUST COLLEGE QUICK FACT SHEET

Dr. David L. Beckley

President

Enrollment Services Directors:

Mr. Johnny B. McDonald

Director of Enrollment Services
(662) 252-8000 ext. 4059 or 4058

Mrs. Helen L. Street

Director of Financial Aid
(662) 252-8000 ext. 4061, Fax: (662) 252-8895

Rust College Motto: "By Their Fruits Ye Shall Know Them"
Rust College Mascot: Bearcats

Rust College's Mission Statement
Rust College is a historically Black, co-educational, senior liberal arts college founded in 1866 by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The College is related to the United Methodist Church, and dedicated to serve students with a variety of academic preparations, through instruction in the humanities, social and behavioral sciences, natural sciences, business, technology and education.

Rust College recognizes the three-fold functions of education as being teaching, research and community service. Its primary mission however, is teaching. It offers a well-rounded program designed to acquaint students with cultural, moral, and spiritual values, both in theory and in practice. Rust College provides an opportunity for education to all, regardless of race, religion, sex, national origin or ethnic background.

Academic Programs Offer Degrees at Rust College
Rust College offers degrees in over 21 different areas:

• Business Administration

• Business Education

• Elementary Education

• Child Care Management

• Early Childhood Education*

• English/Liberal Arts

• English Education

• Mass Communication/Broadcast Journalism

• Mass Communication/Print Journalism

• Music

• Biology

• Biology Education

• Chemistry

• Computer Science

• Mathematics

• Mathematics Education

• Sociology

• Social Work

• Political Science (pre-law)

• Social Science

• Social Science Education

• Medical Terminology (in collaboration with Meharry Medical College/Tennessee State University

*Associate Degree

Where is Rust College Located?
The College is located in the city of Holly Springs in the Northwestern part of Mississippi, situated approximately 35 miles southeast of Memphis, Tennessee.  The College address is 150 Rust Ave., Holly Springs, MS 38635.

How Much Money Does it Cost To Attend Rust College?
Traditional Students (Day-time, Monday through Friday, 8-5)

• Annual Tuition (full-time), 7,000.00, (includes fall and spring semesters only) .

• Annual Room & Board, 3,120.00, (includes fall and spring semesters only) or 1,525.00 per semester.

Adult Pathway Program

• Annual Tuition is 5,300.00 or 2,650.00 per semester.

Residential Living
There are five (5) dormitories on the Rust College campus. Two are for men, Gross Hall, housing 92 students and Davage-Smith Hall, housing 276 students. Three dormitories are for women, Wiff Hall, housing 92 women; E.L. Rust, housing 196 women; and Elzy Hall, housing 200 women.

The on-campus capacity is 856. There is a full-time professional who lives in each building and is responsible for the educational and operational functions of the residence hall.  Rules governing residential living are explained in the Student and the Residential Life Handbooks.

Athletics, Intramurals and Groups

The objectives of the athletic and intramural area are to teach sportsmanship, fair play, and respect for the rights of others and to provide opportunity for recreation physical fitness. The college participates in the following intercollegiate sports:

• basketball

• volleyball

• baseball

• tennis

• cross-country

• track and field activities

• cheerleaders

• soccer

• women's fast pitch softball

• pep squad

Fraternal Organizations (Social).   Rust College has authorized chapters of the following national organizations:

• Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

• Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

• Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority, Inc.

• Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

• Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

• Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Academic Scholarships

Rust College offers several scholarships and grants, the academic scholarships are:

• Honor Track: Must maintain a 3.5 CUM GPA and 22 score, only offered to First-time freshmen, FULL ASSISTANCE PACKAGE (less any federal or state aid).

• Presidential Scholarship: Must maintain a 3.2 CUM GPA and 19 Score, $3,000 per year

• Academic Dean Scholarship: Must maintain a 3.0 CUM GPA and 17 ACT Score, $2,500 per year (Students must maintain CUM GPA to continue the yearly scholarships)

For Further Information Contact:

Enrollment Services
Mr. Johnny B. McDonald, Director
Rust College
150 Rust Avenue
Holly Springs, MS 38635
1-888-886-8492, Exts. 4058/4059/4065/4068
1-662-252-8000, Exts. 4058/4059/4065/4068

 Rust College, Holly Springs, MS 38635.  Rust College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (www.sacscoc.org), to award Associate and Bachelor degrees.