University Description

Rust College is a historically Black, senior liberal arts, church-related college, serving students from diverse backgrounds. Rust provides a quality college degree that every student can afford.. Read More

University History

Rust College was established in 1866 by the Freedman’s Aid Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Its founders were missionaries from the North who opened a school in Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, accepting adults of all ages, as well as children, for instruction in elementary subjects. A year later the first building on the present campus was erected. In 1870, the school was chartered as Shaw University, honoring the Reverend S.O. Shaw, who made a gift of $10,000 to the new institution. In 1892, the name was changed to Rust University to avoid confusion with another Shaw University. The name was a tribute to Richard S. Rust of Cincinnati, Ohio, Secretary of the Freedman’s Aid Society. In 1915, the title was changed to the more realistic name, Rust College.
Graduation Rate: 40% Acceptance Rate: 29% Student Faculty Ratio: 10:1 School Setting: rural Notable Alumni: Ida B. Wells,Anita Ward,Ruby Elzy,Leslie B. McLemore,Alvin Childress,Susie Revels Cayton,Willie Mitchell,Irvine Garland Penn,F.C. Richardson,Dembo M. Badjie,Perry Wilbon Howard II,Clinton LeSueur

Academic Programs

  • General Business Administration and Management
  • Public Administration
  • Criminal Justice and Safety Studies
  • Elementary Education and Teaching
  • General Biology
  • General Political Science and Government
  • Mathematics Teacher Education
  • Social Science Teacher Education
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Preschool Education and Teaching
  • Elementary Education and Teaching
  • General Biology
  • General Business Administration and Management
  • General Chemistry
  • General Mathematics
  • General Political Science and Government
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Criminal Justice and Safety Studies
  • General Computer Science
  • General Social Sciences
  • Public Administration
  • Preschool Education and Teaching
  • Business Teacher Education
  • Broadcast Journalism
  • Journalism
  • Mathematics Teacher Education
  • Other English Language and Literature
  • Social Science Teacher Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching
  • General Biology
  • General Business Administration and Management
  • Social Work
  • General Mathematics
  • Criminal Justice and Safety Studies
  • Public Administration
  • Preschool Education and Teaching
  • General Chemistry
  • General Computer Science
  • General Political Science and Government
  • Sociology
  • General Social Sciences
  • Social Science Teacher Education
  • Mathematics Teacher Education
  • Business Teacher Education
  • Journalism
  • Other English Language and Literature
  • General Biology
  • General Chemistry
  • General Political Science and Government
  • Social Work
  • General Business Administration and Management
  • General Computer Science
  • General Mathematics
  • Sociology
  • Preschool Education and Teaching
  • Public Administration
  • Mathematics Teacher Education
  • Elementary Education and Teaching
  • Public Administration
  • Criminal Justice and Safety Studies
  • General Business Administration and Management
  • General Computer Science
  • Social Science Teacher Education
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
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Sports Offered

  • Baseball (M)
  • Softball (W)
  • Basketball (M)
  • Basketball (W)
  • Cross Country (M)
  • Cross Country (W)
  • Outdoor Track and Field (M)
  • Outdoor Track and Field (W)
  • Tennis (M)
  • Tennis (W)
  • Volleyball (W)
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Greek Life

  • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority
  • Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity
  • Omega Psi Phi Fraternity
  • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority
  • Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity
  • Zeta Phi Beta Sorority
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