Connecticut College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Connecticut College 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.

Connecticut College
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Connecticut College New London, CT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Connecticut College Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Connecticut College 1,990
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Connecticut College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Connecticut College #93
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Connecticut College -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Connecticut College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Connecticut College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Connecticut College $67,242
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Connecticut College $18,558
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Connecticut College $45,700
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College $38,932
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Connecticut College 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Connecticut College 7,950
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Connecticut College 2,945
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Connecticut College 37%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Connecticut College 15.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Connecticut College 1430
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Connecticut College 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Connecticut College 3.7
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Connecticut College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Connecticut College Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Connecticut College High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Connecticut College 30/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Connecticut College 1350/1500
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Connecticut College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

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

  • Outcomes

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

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Connecticut College 39%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Connecticut College 61%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Connecticut College Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Connecticut College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Connecticut College 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Connecticut College 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Connecticut College 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Connecticut College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Connecticut College 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Connecticut College 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Connecticut College 13%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Connecticut College 82%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Connecticut College in New London, CT 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 Connecticut College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,990 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Connecticut College is located in New London, CT (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Connecticut College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Connecticut College 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Connecticut 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 Penn State Main Campus than Connecticut College ($27,889 vs. $45,700).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 22% lower than at Connecticut College ($14,474 vs. $18,558).
  • Connecticut College is 225.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $46,598 more per year; $67,242.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 60.9% higher at Connecticut College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $25,452 more per year; $67,242.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Connecticut College than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Connecticut College students is 243.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($38,932 vs. $11,336).

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Connecticut 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 Connecticut College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Connecticut College (1430) is 100 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Connecticut College students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 1350/1500; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Connecticut College 30/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Connecticut College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Connecticut College Jan 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Connecticut College (37%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.3% at Connecticut College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Connecticut College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Connecticut 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 Connecticut College's (84%).
  • Graduates from Connecticut College earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($60,700 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Connecticut College graduates have a $3,268 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,550 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Connecticut College graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.