Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Abington is larger than Elizabethtown College based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 2,283 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elizabethtown College is located in Elizabethtown, PA (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Elizabethtown College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elizabethtown College 13:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elizabethtown College 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 Elizabethtown College ($19,232 vs. $27,760).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabethtown College are 7.8% lower than at Penn State Abington ($13,340 vs. $14,474).
• Elizabethtown College is 148.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $22,682 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 47.9% higher at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Abington (about $12,286 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Abington (100% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabethtown College students is 133.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($23,064 vs. $9,883).

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Elizabethtown College 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 Elizabethtown College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elizabethtown College (1210) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Incoming Elizabethtown College students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 25 at Penn State Abington).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 1105/1310; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 26/31; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elizabethtown College - Test optional; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Elizabethtown College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.66) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Elizabethtown College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.6% at Elizabethtown College vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elizabethtown College 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).

• Elizabethtown College's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington 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 Abington graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Elizabethtown College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Abington 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 Abington 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.