Connecticut College vs. Penn State

Should I go to Connecticut College or Penn State Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Connecticut College or Penn State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Connecticut College vs. Penn State Main Campus comparison
Connecticut College Penn State Main Campus College 3 College 4
Connecticut College Penn State Main Campus
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Overview

 Connecticut College Penn State
Location New London, CT University Park, PA
Setting Small City Small City
Enrollment 1,995 50,399
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #75 #171
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website connecticutcollege.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Connecticut College Penn State
Tuition (In State) $64,412 $19,672
Tuition (Out of State) $64,412 $39,626
Room & Board $17,885 $13,030
Avg Net Price $42,941 $27,450
Avg Grant Aid $39,354 $11,577
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 36%

Admission

 Connecticut College Penn State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,397 85,956
Admitted 3,597 46,605
Acceptance Rate 38.3% 54.2%
Enrolled % 15.4% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.7 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition High Low
ACT Range 31/33 27/32
SAT Range 1340/1470 1220/1400
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2026

Academics

 Connecticut College Penn State
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Biology (15%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Ethnic Studies (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Connecticut College Penn State
Graduation Rate 84% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $60,700 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 90% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $23,550 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $243 $277

Diversity

 Connecticut College Penn State
% Men 1% 8%
% Women 1% 8%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 71% 69%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 6% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Connecticut College Penn State
% In-State 12% 51%
% Out-of-State 83% 40%

Campus

 Connecticut College Penn State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Connecticut College based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 1,995 students)

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Connecticut College or Penn State?

  • Connecticut College is 227.4% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($64,412.00 vs. $19,672.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 62.5% higher at Connecticut College than Penn State Main Campus ($64,412.00 vs. $39,626.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Connecticut College ($27,450 vs. $42,941)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 37.3% lower than costs at Connecticut College ($13,030 vs. $17,885)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Connecticut College than Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 36%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Connecticut College students is 239.9% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($39,354 vs. $11,577)

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Connecticut College or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Connecticut College .

  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (54.2%) than Connecticut College (38.3%)

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Connecticut College or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and Connecticut College.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Connecticut College (87% vs. 84%)
  • Graduates from Connecticut College earn on average $5,400 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($60,700 vs. $55,300)
  • Connecticut College students graduate with a $3,268 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($23,550 vs. $26,818)
  • Connecticut College graduates are paying $34 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($243 vs. $277)
  • More Connecticut College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (90% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/