ECSU vs. Penn State Harrisburg

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Harrisburg is larger than ECSU based on total student enrollment (4,478 students vs. 4,355 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

ECSU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Eastern Connecticut State University than Penn State Harrisburg ($21,512 vs. $23,788).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Harrisburg are 17% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($14,474 vs. $17,445).
• Penn State Harrisburg is 14.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $2,044 more per year; $15,972.00 vs. $13,928.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 54.7% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $9,530 more per year; $26,958.00 vs. $17,428.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University than at Penn State Harrisburg (94% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 13.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students ($10,480 vs. $9,245).

ECSU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Harrisburg (1220) is 50 points higher than at ECSU (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; Penn State Harrisburg 1120/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Harrisburg 22/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; Penn State Harrisburg - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Harrisburg students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.48) than students at ECSU (3.4).
• Penn State Harrisburg has a higher acceptance rate (97.6%) than ECSU (83%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

ECSU vs. Penn State Harrisburg Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and Penn State Harrisburg? 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 Harrisburg's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Eastern Connecticut State University's (49%).
• Graduates from Penn State Harrisburg 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 Harrisburg graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECSU graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Harrisburg 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.