Paul Smith's College vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

Compare Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science in Paul Smiths, NY with Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Plaza College is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (1,002 students vs. 948 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is located in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1; Plaza College 28:1.

Paul Smith's College vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paul Smith's College or Plaza 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 Plaza College than Paul Smith's College ($19,860 vs. $28,443).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science are 8.2% lower than at Plaza College ($14,236 vs. $15,500).
• Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is 113.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Plaza College (about $17,559 more per year; $33,009.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 113.7% higher at Paul Smith's College than at Plaza College (about $17,559 more per year; $33,009.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than at Plaza College (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students is 244.7% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($22,973 vs. $6,665).

Paul Smith's College vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paul Smith's College or Plaza 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 Plaza College and Paul Smith's College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Paul Smith's College - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• Paul Smith's College has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.8% at Paul Smith's College vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

Paul Smith's College vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paul Smith's College and Plaza 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($36,700 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $11,085 lower median loan debt than Paul Smith's College graduates ($13,915 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $115 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Paul Smith's College graduates ($143 vs. $258).
• More Paul Smith's College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 30%)

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.