McDaniel College vs. Centra College

Comparable Facts

Compare McDaniel College in Westminster, MD with Centra College in Lynchburg, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

McDaniel College is larger than Centra College based on total student enrollment (2,868 students vs. 219 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• McDaniel College is located in Westminster, MD (Small Suburban setting); Centra College is in Lynchburg, VA (Small City setting).
• McDaniel College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Centra College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: McDaniel College 13:1; Centra College 3:1.

McDaniel College vs. Centra College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, McDaniel College or Centra College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Centra College are 4.2% lower than at McDaniel College ($12,424 vs. $12,974).
• McDaniel College is 301.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Centra College (about $39,098 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 301.1% higher at McDaniel College than at Centra College (about $39,098 more per year; $52,081.00 vs. $12,983.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at McDaniel College than at Centra College (100% vs. 0%).

McDaniel College vs. Centra College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: McDaniel College - Test-free; Centra College - Test-free.
• Centra College has a higher acceptance rate (100%) than McDaniel College (77.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.7% at McDaniel College vs. 0% at Centra College.

McDaniel College vs. Centra College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for McDaniel College and Centra 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).

• Graduates from McDaniel College earn a median of about $8,600 more per year than Centra College graduates about ten years after starting college ($53,400 vs. $44,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Centra College graduates have a $14,958 lower median loan debt than McDaniel College graduates ($12,042 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Centra College graduates have an estimated $155 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than McDaniel College graduates ($124 vs. $279).
• More McDaniel College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Centra College students, three years after graduation. (81% vs. 66%)

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.