EC vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

Penn State Brandywine is larger than EC based on total student enrollment (1,236 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Elmira College is located in Elmira, NY (Small City setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Elmira College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Elmira College 11:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

EC vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, EC 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 EC ($22,710 vs. $23,682).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 0.5% lower than at Elmira College ($14,474 vs. $14,550).
• Elmira College is 156.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $23,768 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 53.5% higher at EC than at Penn State Brandywine (about $13,584 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College than at Penn State Brandywine (100% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Elmira College students is 215.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($28,780 vs. $9,113).

EC vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, EC 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 EC.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Elmira College (1240) is 40 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 1090/1385; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Elmira College 26/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: EC - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than EC (77%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.3% at EC vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

EC vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for EC 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).

• Elmira College's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine earn a median of about $9,300 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than EC graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EC graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More EC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.