Nichols vs. Penn State Schuylkill

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA with Penn State Schuylkill in Schuylkill Haven, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nichols College is larger than Penn State Schuylkill based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 624 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Schuylkill is in Schuylkill Haven, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Schuylkill is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; Penn State Schuylkill 14:1.

Nichols vs. Penn State Schuylkill Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols or Penn State Schuylkill? 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 Schuylkill than Nichols ($19,039 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Schuylkill are 8.4% lower than at Nichols College ($14,474 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 180.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Schuylkill (about $27,497 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.2% higher at Nichols than at Penn State Schuylkill (about $17,313 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at Penn State Schuylkill (99% vs. 85%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 121.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Schuylkill students ($25,809 vs. $11,645).

Nichols vs. Penn State Schuylkill Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols or Penn State Schuylkill? 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 Schuylkill and Nichols.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Nichols College (1130) is the same as at Penn State Schuylkill (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nichols College 1028/1236; Penn State Schuylkill 1020/1230.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; Penn State Schuylkill - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Penn State Schuylkill students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Penn State Schuylkill has a higher acceptance rate (96.6%) than Nichols (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 20% at Penn State Schuylkill.

Nichols vs. Penn State Schuylkill Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols and Penn State Schuylkill? 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).

• Penn State Schuylkill's six-year graduation rate (47%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Penn State Schuylkill earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Nichols graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Schuylkill graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Schuylkill graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Schuylkill graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.