Nichols vs. Ship

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA 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 Nichols based on total student enrollment (5,161 students vs. 1,392 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Nichols 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: Nichols College 15:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

Nichols vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols 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 Nichols ($23,772 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 15.6% lower than at Nichols College ($13,340 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 211.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $28,985 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $13,720.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 167.3% higher at Nichols than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $26,731 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $15,974.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 90%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 282% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($25,809 vs. $6,756).

Nichols vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols 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 Nichols.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Nichols College (1130) is 30 points higher than at Ship (1100).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nichols College 1028/1236; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; Ship - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Ship students have a 0.33 point higher average high school GPA (3.23) than students at Nichols (2.9).
• Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than Nichols (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 17.5% at Ship.

Nichols vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols 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).

• Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Nichols College earn a median of about $4,600 more per year than Ship graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,800 vs. $47,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Ship graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.