F&M vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA with Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania in Shippensburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (5,161 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Franklin and Marshall College is located in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Franklin and Marshall College 9:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

F&M vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, F&M 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 Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than F&M ($23,772 vs. $43,987).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 17.6% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($13,340 vs. $16,188).
• Franklin and Marshall College is 416% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $57,074 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 343.2% higher at F&M than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $54,820 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania than at Franklin and Marshall College (90% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 520.2% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($41,901 vs. $6,756).

F&M vs. Ship Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 290 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• 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; Ship - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: F&M Jan 15, 2027.
• Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than F&M (28.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at F&M vs. 17.5% at Ship.

F&M vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for F&M 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).

• Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's (60%).
• Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $14,700 more per year than Ship graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $3,000 lower median loan debt than Ship graduates ($22,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $31 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ship graduates ($227 vs. $258).
• More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Ship students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 72%)

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.