BSC vs. Penn College

Comparable Facts

Compare Bismarck State College in Bismarck, ND with Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Pennsylvania College of Technology is larger than BSC based on total student enrollment (4,575 students vs. 4,206 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bismarck State College is located in Bismarck, ND (Small City setting); Pennsylvania College of Technology is in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting).
• Bismarck State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bismarck State College 13:1; Pennsylvania College of Technology 14:1.

BSC vs. Penn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BSC or Penn College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bismarck State College than Penn College ($10,462 vs. $23,675).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bismarck State College are 35.5% lower than at Pennsylvania College of Technology ($8,273 vs. $12,818).
• Pennsylvania College of Technology is 247.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than BSC (about $12,993 more per year; $18,240.00 vs. $5,247.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 254.4% higher at Penn College than at Bismarck State College (about $18,649 more per year; $25,980.00 vs. $7,331.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Bismarck State College than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (73% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Pennsylvania College of Technology students is 77.5% larger than aid received by Bismarck State College students ($8,964 vs. $5,049).

BSC vs. Penn College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BSC or Penn College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn College and BSC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BSC - Open admission; Penn College - Open admission.

BSC vs. Penn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BSC and Penn College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Bismarck State College earn a median of about $4,800 more per year than Penn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($49,200 vs. $44,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bismarck State College graduates have a $10,459 lower median loan debt than Penn College graduates ($11,041 vs. $21,500).
• Among borrowers, BSC graduates have an estimated $108 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn College graduates ($114 vs. $222).
• More BSC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn College students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.