Colby-Sawyer vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

Compare Colby Sawyer College in New London, NH with Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Plaza College is larger than Colby-Sawyer based on total student enrollment (1,002 students vs. 972 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Colby Sawyer College is located in New London, NH (Distant Rural setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Colby Sawyer College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Colby Sawyer College 10:1; Plaza College 28:1.

Colby-Sawyer vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby-Sawyer or Plaza 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 Plaza College than Colby-Sawyer ($19,860 vs. $27,496).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Plaza College are 10.7% lower than at Colby Sawyer College ($15,500 vs. $17,364).
• Colby Sawyer College is 23.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Plaza College (about $3,675 more per year; $19,125.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 23.8% higher at Colby-Sawyer than at Plaza College (about $3,675 more per year; $19,125.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colby Sawyer College than at Plaza College (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Colby Sawyer College students is 66.5% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($11,098 vs. $6,665).

Colby-Sawyer vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby-Sawyer or Plaza 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 Plaza College and Colby-Sawyer.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Colby-Sawyer - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• Colby-Sawyer has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Colby-Sawyer vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

Colby-Sawyer vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Colby-Sawyer and Plaza 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 Colby Sawyer College earn a median of about $17,600 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,900 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $13,085 lower median loan debt than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($13,915 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $136 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Colby-Sawyer graduates ($143 vs. $279).
• More Colby-Sawyer graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 30%)

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.