Framingham State University vs. Nichols

Should I go to Framingham State University or Nichols College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Framingham State University or Nichols is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Framingham State University vs. Nichols College comparison
Framingham State University Nichols College College 3 College 4
Framingham State University Nichols College
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Overview

 Framingham State University Nichols
Location Framingham, MA Dudley, MA
Setting Small City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 4,028 1,354
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #582 #905
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website framingham.edu nichols.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Framingham State University Nichols
Tuition (In State) $970 $38,825
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $38,825
Room & Board $13,784 $14,950
Avg Net Price $16,640 $31,032
Avg Grant Aid $9,184 $24,720
% Receiving Grant Aid 80% 95%

Admission

 Framingham State University Nichols
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,342 2,117
Admitted 3,685 1,866
Acceptance Rate 84.9% 88.1%Open
Enrolled % 13.5% 17.8%Open
Avg High School GPA 3.07 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Average Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 1070/1255 1000/1190
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 15, 2026

Academics

 Framingham State University Nichols
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Business (75%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Education (2%)

Outcomes

 Framingham State University Nichols
Graduation Rate 52% 43%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,600 $51,800
Making Student Loan Payments 73% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,705 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $255 $279

Diversity

 Framingham State University Nichols
% Men 7% 8%
% Women 23% 7%
Racial Diversity Low Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 72% 81%
% Black 8% 7%
% Hispanic 11% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

 Framingham State University Nichols
% In-State 90% 51%
% Out-of-State 9% 46%

Campus

 Framingham State University Nichols
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Framingham State University is larger than than Nichols based on total student enrollment (4,028 students vs. 1,354 students)

Framingham State University vs. Nichols Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Framingham State University or Nichols?

  • Nichols College is 3,902.6% more expensive to attend than Framingham State University for in-state tuition ($38,825.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 450.7% higher at Nichols than Framingham State University ($38,825.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Framingham State University than Nichols ($16,640 vs. $31,032)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Framingham State University are 8.5% lower than costs at Nichols College ($13,784 vs. $14,950)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Nichols College than Framingham State University (95% vs. 80%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 169.2% larger than aid received Framingham State University ($24,720 vs. $9,184)

Framingham State University vs. Nichols Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Framingham State University or Nichols? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Nichols or Framingham State University .

  • Accepted freshman Framingham State University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.07) than students at Nichols (2.9)
  • Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (88.1%) than Framingham State University (84.9%)

Framingham State University vs. Nichols Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Framingham State University or Nichols? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Nichols and Framingham State University.

  • The graduation rate at Framingham State University is higher than Nichols College (52% vs. 43%)
  • Graduates from Nichols College earn on average $4,200 more per year than Framingham State University graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $47,600)
  • Framingham State University students graduate with a $2,295 lower median federal student loan debt than Nichols graduates. ($24,705 vs. $27,000)
  • Framingham State University graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than Nichols graduates. ($255 vs. $279)
  • More Framingham State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (73% vs. 68%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/