Fitchburg State vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, MA with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Fitchburg State University is larger than Ship based on total student enrollment (5,892 students vs. 5,161 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fitchburg State University is located in Fitchburg, MA (Midsize Suburban setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Fitchburg State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fitchburg State University 11:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

Fitchburg State vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fitchburg State or Ship? 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 Fitchburg State University than Ship ($15,340 vs. $23,772).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 13.7% lower than at Fitchburg State University ($13,340 vs. $15,452).
• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is 20.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fitchburg State (about $2,374 more per year; $13,720.00 vs. $11,346.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at Fitchburg State than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $1,452 more per year; $17,426.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fitchburg State University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (92% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Fitchburg State University students is 70.8% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($11,539 vs. $6,756).

Fitchburg State vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Fitchburg State or Ship? 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 Ship and Fitchburg State.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Fitchburg State University (1150) is 50 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fitchburg State University 1060/1230; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fitchburg State - Test optional; Ship - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Fitchburg State students have a 0.06 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at Ship (3.23).
• Fitchburg State has a higher acceptance rate (86.9%) than Ship (86.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.5% at Fitchburg State vs. 17.5% at Ship.

Fitchburg State vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fitchburg State and Ship? 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).

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Fitchburg State University's (47%).
• Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $3,200 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $44,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fitchburg State University graduates have a $2,315 lower median loan debt than Ship graduates ($22,685 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Fitchburg State graduates have an estimated $24 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ship graduates ($234 vs. $258).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fitchburg State students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 65%)

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.