McDaniel College vs. Beacon College

Comparable Facts

Compare McDaniel College in Westminster, MD with Beacon College in Leesburg, FL on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McDaniel College is larger than Beacon College based on total student enrollment (2,868 students vs. 531 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting); Beacon College is in Leesburg, FL (Small Suburban setting).
• McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Beacon College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDaniel College 13:1; Beacon College 12:1.

McDaniel College vs. Beacon College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDaniel College or Beacon College? 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 McDaniel College than Beacon College ($24,497 vs. $46,997).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at McDaniel College are 17.1% lower than at Beacon College ($12,974 vs. $15,658).
• McDaniel College is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Beacon College (about $401 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $51,680.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at McDaniel College than at Beacon College (about $401 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $51,680.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College than at Beacon College (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by McDaniel College students is 69.8% larger than aid received by Beacon College students ($40,721 vs. $23,988).

McDaniel College vs. Beacon College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, McDaniel College or Beacon College? 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 Beacon College and McDaniel College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McDaniel College - Test-free; Beacon College - Test-free.
• Accepted freshman McDaniel College students have a 0.44 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Beacon College (3.2).
• McDaniel College has a higher acceptance rate (77.9%) than Beacon College (43.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at McDaniel College vs. 38.6% at Beacon College.

McDaniel College vs. Beacon College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDaniel College and Beacon College? 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).

• Beacon College's six-year graduation rate (82%) is higher than McDaniel College's (74%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Beacon College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than McDaniel College graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Beacon College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than McDaniel College graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More McDaniel College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Beacon College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 55%)

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.