Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

Elizabethtown College is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (2,283 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elizabethtown College is located in Elizabethtown, PA (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Elizabethtown College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elizabethtown College 13:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Elizabethtown College or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine than Elizabethtown College ($22,710 vs. $27,760).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elizabethtown College are 7.8% lower than at Penn State Brandywine ($13,340 vs. $14,474).
• Elizabethtown College is 149.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $22,742 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 49.5% higher at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Brandywine (about $12,558 more per year; $37,950.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elizabethtown College than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elizabethtown College students is 153.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($23,064 vs. $9,113).

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elizabethtown College (1210) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 1105/1310; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elizabethtown College 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Elizabethtown College - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Elizabethtown College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.6% at Elizabethtown College vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Elizabethtown College vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Elizabethtown College and Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Elizabethtown College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine 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.