F&M vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

Franklin and Marshall College is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (1,808 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

F&M vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 F&M ($22,710 vs. $43,987).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 10.6% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($14,474 vs. $16,188).
• Franklin and Marshall College is 365.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $55,586 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 178.8% higher at F&M than at Penn State Brandywine (about $45,402 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Penn State Brandywine (80% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 359.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($41,901 vs. $9,113).

F&M vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, F&M 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 F&M.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 190 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: F&M - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than F&M (28.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

F&M vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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).

• Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $6,600 more per year than Penn State Brandywine graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $4,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($22,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $50 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($227 vs. $277).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.