Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Elizabethtown College and Penn State Main Campus? 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.

Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Elizabethtown College Elizabethtown, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Elizabethtown College Town Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Elizabethtown College 2,283
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Elizabethtown College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Elizabethtown College #272
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Elizabethtown College Church of Brethren
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Elizabethtown College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Elizabethtown College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Elizabethtown College $37,950
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Elizabethtown College $37,950
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Elizabethtown College $13,340
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Elizabethtown College $27,760
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Elizabethtown College $23,064
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Elizabethtown College 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Elizabethtown College 3,624
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Elizabethtown College 2,822
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Elizabethtown College 77.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Elizabethtown College 17.6%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Elizabethtown College 1210
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Elizabethtown College 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Elizabethtown College 3.66
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Elizabethtown College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Elizabethtown College Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Elizabethtown College
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Elizabethtown College 26/31
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Elizabethtown College 1105/1310
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Elizabethtown College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Elizabethtown College
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Elizabethtown College 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Elizabethtown College
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Education (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Elizabethtown College 79%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Elizabethtown College $51,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Elizabethtown College 83%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Elizabethtown College $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Elizabethtown College $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Elizabethtown College 38%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Elizabethtown College 62%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Elizabethtown College Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Elizabethtown College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Elizabethtown College 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Elizabethtown College 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Elizabethtown College 3%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Elizabethtown College 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Elizabethtown College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Elizabethtown College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Elizabethtown College 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Elizabethtown College 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Elizabethtown College 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Elizabethtown College 70%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Elizabethtown College 28%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Elizabethtown College Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Elizabethtown College Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Elizabethtown College Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Elizabethtown College No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Elizabethtown College No
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Elizabethtown College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Elizabethtown College is located in Elizabethtown, PA (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Elizabethtown College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Elizabethtown College 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elizabethtown College or Penn State? 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 Elizabethtown College than Penn State ($27,760 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabethtown College are 7.8% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,340 vs. $14,474).
  • Elizabethtown College is 83.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $17,306 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10.1% higher at Penn State than at Elizabethtown College (about $3,840 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $37,950.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabethtown College students is 103.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($23,064 vs. $11,336).

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elizabethtown College or Penn State? 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 and Elizabethtown College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 120 points higher than at Elizabethtown College (1210).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Elizabethtown College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 1105/1310; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 26/31; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elizabethtown College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Elizabethtown College has a higher acceptance rate (77.9%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.6% at Elizabethtown College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elizabethtown College and Penn State? 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 Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Elizabethtown College's (79%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Elizabethtown College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Elizabethtown College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Elizabethtown College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Elizabethtown College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)

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.