Elms College vs. Penn State

Deciding between College of Our Lady of the Elms and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

College of Our Lady of the Elms
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elms College Chicopee, MA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Elms College Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elms College 1,268
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Elms College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elms College #359
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elms College Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Elms College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elms College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elms College $43,325
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elms College $43,325
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Elms College $15,605
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Elms College $19,870
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elms College $33,794
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elms College 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elms College 1,269
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Elms College 1,082
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elms College 85.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Elms College 10.9%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elms College 1240
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elms College
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elms College 3.42
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elms College B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elms College Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elms College
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Elms College
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Elms College 1150/1320
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elms College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elms College
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elms College 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elms College
    • Health Professions (49%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Human Services (9%)
    • History (5%)
    • General Studies (4%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elms College 58%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elms College $46,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elms College 61%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elms College $25,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elms College $258
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elms College 26%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Elms College 74%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elms College Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Elms College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Elms College 56%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Elms College 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Elms College 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elms College 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Elms College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elms College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elms College 0%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Elms College 0%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elms College 24%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elms College 79%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elms College 19%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Elms College Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Elms College No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Elms College Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Elms College Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Elms College No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare College of Our Lady of the Elms in Chicopee, MA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Elms College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,268 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • College of Our Lady of the Elms is located in Chicopee, MA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Elms College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Penn State? 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 College of Our Lady of the Elms than Penn State ($19,870 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 7.2% lower than at College of Our Lady of the Elms ($14,474 vs. $15,605).
  • College of Our Lady of the Elms is 109.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $22,681 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.7% higher at Elms College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $1,535 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 198.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($33,794 vs. $11,336).

Elms College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elms College or Penn State? 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 State and Elms College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 90 points higher than at Elms College (1240).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elms College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Elms College has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Elms College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elms College and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than College of Our Lady of the Elms's (58%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than Elms College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, College of Our Lady of the Elms graduates have a $1,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Elms College graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Elms College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 61%)

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.