ECSU vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Connecticut State University is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (4,355 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

ECSU vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington than ECSU ($19,232 vs. $21,512).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 17% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($14,474 vs. $17,445).
• Penn State Abington is 9.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $1,340 more per year; $15,268.00 vs. $13,928.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.3% higher at Penn State Abington than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $8,236 more per year; $25,664.00 vs. $17,428.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University than at Penn State Abington (94% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 6% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($10,480 vs. $9,883).

ECSU vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or Penn State Abington? 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 Abington and ECSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Connecticut State University (1170) is the same as at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ECSU (3.4).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than ECSU (83%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

ECSU vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and Penn State Abington? 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).

• Eastern Connecticut State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Connecticut State University graduates have a $3,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECSU graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.