ECSU vs. SUNY Cortland

Deciding between Eastern Connecticut State University and State University of New York at Cortland? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Eastern Connecticut State University
State University of New York at Cortland

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECSU Willimantic, CT
  • SUNY Cortland Cortland, NY
  • Setting
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • SUNY Cortland Rural Fringe
  • Total enrollment
  • ECSU 4,355
  • SUNY Cortland 6,938
  • Type
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • SUNY Cortland Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECSU #547
  • SUNY Cortland #422
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECSU -
  • SUNY Cortland -
  • Status
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • SUNY Cortland Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECSU
  • SUNY Cortland
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECSU $13,928
  • SUNY Cortland $8,874
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECSU $17,428
  • SUNY Cortland $18,784
  • Room & Board
  • ECSU $17,445
  • SUNY Cortland $15,560
  • Average Net Price
  • ECSU $21,512
  • SUNY Cortland $19,847
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECSU $10,480
  • SUNY Cortland $8,254
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECSU 94%
  • SUNY Cortland 63%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECSU 6,491
  • SUNY Cortland 17,571
  • Admitted
  • ECSU 5,386
  • SUNY Cortland 10,505
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECSU 83%
  • SUNY Cortland 59.8%
  • Enrolled
  • ECSU 15%
  • SUNY Cortland 13.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECSU 1170
  • SUNY Cortland 1170
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECSU
  • SUNY Cortland 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECSU 3.4
  • SUNY Cortland 3.7
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECSU B+
  • SUNY Cortland A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECSU Average
  • SUNY Cortland Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECSU
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • ACT Range
  • ECSU
  • SUNY Cortland 22/27
  • SAT Range
  • ECSU 1070/1260
  • SUNY Cortland 1090/1240
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECSU Test optional
  • SUNY Cortland Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • ECSU
  • SUNY Cortland
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECSU 15:1
  • SUNY Cortland 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECSU
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • SUNY Cortland
    • Education (41%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (16%)
    • Social Sciences (13%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • Health Professions (5%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECSU 49%
  • SUNY Cortland 67%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECSU $46,400
  • SUNY Cortland $47,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECSU 68%
  • SUNY Cortland 75%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECSU $23,000
  • SUNY Cortland $21,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECSU $237
  • SUNY Cortland $222
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECSU 41%
  • SUNY Cortland 44%
  • % Women
  • ECSU 59%
  • SUNY Cortland 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECSU Medium
  • SUNY Cortland Low
  • HBCU
  • ECSU No
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • % White
  • ECSU 67%
  • SUNY Cortland 74%
  • % Asian
  • ECSU 3%
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • % Black
  • ECSU 7%
  • SUNY Cortland 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECSU 10%
  • SUNY Cortland 11%
  • % Native American
  • ECSU 0%
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECSU 0%
  • SUNY Cortland 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECSU 3%
  • SUNY Cortland 2%
  • % International
  • ECSU 1%
  • SUNY Cortland 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECSU 9%
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECSU 89%
  • SUNY Cortland 93%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECSU 11%
  • SUNY Cortland 5%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ECSU Yes
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ECSU No
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • ECSU Yes
  • SUNY Cortland Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ECSU Yes
  • SUNY Cortland No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ECSU No
  • SUNY Cortland Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT with State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than ECSU based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 4,355 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); State University of New York at Cortland is in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting).
  • Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; State University of New York at Cortland 15:1.

ECSU vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or SUNY Cortland? 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 State University of New York at Cortland than ECSU ($19,847 vs. $21,512).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at State University of New York at Cortland are 10.8% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($15,560 vs. $17,445).
  • Eastern Connecticut State University is 57% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $5,054 more per year; $13,928.00 vs. $8,874.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.8% higher at SUNY Cortland than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $1,356 more per year; $18,784.00 vs. $17,428.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University than at State University of New York at Cortland (94% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 27% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($10,480 vs. $8,254).

ECSU vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland and ECSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Connecticut State University (1170) is the same as at SUNY Cortland (1170).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsState University of New York at Cortland 22/27.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; SUNY Cortland - Test-free.
  • Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at ECSU (3.4).
  • ECSU has a higher acceptance rate (83%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 13.3% at SUNY Cortland.

ECSU vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and SUNY Cortland? 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).

  • State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Eastern Connecticut State University's (49%).
  • Graduates from State University of New York at Cortland earn a median of about $900 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than ECSU graduates ($21,500 vs. $23,000).
  • Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than ECSU graduates ($222 vs. $237).
  • More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.