ECSU vs. St. Mary's

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT with St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Connecticut State University is larger than St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (4,355 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); St. Mary's College of Maryland is in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting).
• Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1.

ECSU vs. St. Mary's Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or St. Mary's? 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 St. Mary's College of Maryland than ECSU ($21,071 vs. $21,512).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Mary's College of Maryland are 7.8% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($16,079 vs. $17,445).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is 9.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $1,370 more per year; $15,298.00 vs. $13,928.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 80% higher at St. Mary's than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $13,946 more per year; $31,374.00 vs. $17,428.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at Eastern Connecticut State University (98% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students is 8.8% larger than aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students ($11,398 vs. $10,480).

ECSU vs. St. Mary's Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or St. Mary's? 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 St. Mary's and ECSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at St. Mary's College of Maryland (1240) is 70 points higher than at ECSU (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSt. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; St. Mary's - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman St. Mary's students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at ECSU (3.4).
• ECSU has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 17.3% at St. Mary's.

ECSU vs. St. Mary's Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and St. Mary's? 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).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Eastern Connecticut State University's (49%).
• Graduates from St. Mary's College of Maryland earn a median of about $5,100 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,500 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Mary's College of Maryland graduates have a $2,630 lower median loan debt than ECSU graduates ($20,370 vs. $23,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Mary's graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECSU graduates ($210 vs. $237).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.