ECU vs. Penn State Mont Alto

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Penn State Mont Alto in Mont Alto, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than Penn State Mont Alto based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 582 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Penn State Mont Alto is in Mont Alto, PA (Distant Town setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Mont Alto is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Penn State Mont Alto 10:1.

ECU vs. Penn State Mont Alto Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 East Carolina University than Penn State Mont Alto ($13,755 vs. $19,675).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 20.3% lower than at Penn State Mont Alto ($11,541 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Mont Alto is 95.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $7,047 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 2.1% higher at Penn State Mont Alto than at East Carolina University (about $496 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Mont Alto than at East Carolina University (84% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Mont Alto students is 3.4% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($10,106 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. Penn State Mont Alto Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or Penn State Mont Alto? 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 Mont Alto and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at East Carolina University (1160) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Mont Alto (1140).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Penn State Mont Alto 980/1300.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Test optional; Penn State Mont Alto - Test optional.
• Penn State Mont Alto has a higher acceptance rate (98.2%) than ECU (89.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 24.4% at Penn State Mont Alto.

ECU vs. Penn State Mont Alto Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and Penn State Mont Alto? 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).

• East Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Penn State Mont Alto's (52%).
• Graduates from Penn State Mont Alto earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $2,030 lower median loan debt than Penn State Mont Alto graduates ($24,788 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Mont Alto graduates ($256 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Mont Alto graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.