Elms College vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

College of Our Lady of the Elms is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (1,268 students vs. 1,236 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 Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• College of Our Lady of the Elms is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: College of Our Lady of the Elms 11:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Elms College vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elms College or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine ($19,870 vs. $22,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine 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 184.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $28,117 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 70.6% higher at Elms College than at Penn State Brandywine (about $17,933 more per year; $43,325.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at College of Our Lady of the Elms than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by College of Our Lady of the Elms students is 270.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($33,794 vs. $9,113).

Elms College vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at College of Our Lady of the Elms (1240) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: College of Our Lady of the Elms 1150/1320; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elms College - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Elms College (85.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.9% at Elms College vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Elms College vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elms College and Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates ($258 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Brandywine 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.