Elms College vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Abington is larger than Elms College based on total student enrollment (2,885 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 Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Elms College vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington than Elms College ($19,232 vs. $19,870).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington 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 183.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $28,057 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.8% higher at Elms College than at Penn State Abington (about $17,661 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Penn State Abington (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 241.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($33,794 vs. $9,883).

Elms College vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 70 points higher than at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elms College - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Elms College students have the same average high school GPA (3.42) as students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Elms College (85.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Elms College vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

• College of Our Lady of the Elms's six-year graduation rate (58%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington 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 Abington 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 Abington graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Abington 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.