ECU vs. Penn State New Kensington

Comparable Facts

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

East Carolina University is larger than Penn State New Kensington based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 421 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Penn State New Kensington is in New Kensington, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State New Kensington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Penn State New Kensington 9:1.

ECU vs. Penn State New Kensington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington ($13,755 vs. $19,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 24.4% lower than at Penn State New Kensington ($11,541 vs. $15,274).
• Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington 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 New Kensington than at East Carolina University (94% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Carolina University students is 25.2% larger than aid received by Penn State New Kensington students ($9,776 vs. $7,809).

ECU vs. Penn State New Kensington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State New Kensington (1190) is 30 points higher than at ECU (1160).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Penn State New Kensington 1110/1265.
• 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 New Kensington - Test optional.
• Penn State New Kensington has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than ECU (89.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 22% at Penn State New Kensington.

ECU vs. Penn State New Kensington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington graduates ($24,788 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State New Kensington graduates ($256 vs. $277).
• More Penn State New Kensington 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.