Nichols vs. Hartwick College

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA with Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nichols College is larger than Hartwick College based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 1,097 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Hartwick College is in Oneonta, NY (Remote Town setting).
• Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hartwick College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; Hartwick College 10:1.

Nichols vs. Hartwick College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols or Hartwick 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 Hartwick College than Nichols ($31,712 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Hartwick College are 3.6% lower than at Nichols College ($15,232 vs. $15,800).
• Hartwick College is 28.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Nichols (about $12,257 more per year; $54,962.00 vs. $42,705.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.7% higher at Hartwick College than at Nichols College (about $12,257 more per year; $54,962.00 vs. $42,705.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Hartwick College than at Nichols College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hartwick College students is 41.7% larger than aid received by Nichols College students ($36,569 vs. $25,809).

Nichols vs. Hartwick College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols or Hartwick 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 Hartwick College and Nichols.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Hartwick College (1180) is 50 points higher than at Nichols (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nichols College 1028/1236; Hartwick College 1070/1290.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; Hartwick College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Hartwick College students have a 0.46 point higher average high school GPA (3.36) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Nichols has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Hartwick College (69.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 9.6% at Hartwick College.

Nichols vs. Hartwick College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols and Hartwick 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).

• Hartwick College's six-year graduation rate (54%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Nichols College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Hartwick College graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $45,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hartwick College and Nichols graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Hartwick College and Nichols graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Hartwick College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (74% vs. 68%)

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.