Penn State Abington vs. Wilson College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Abington in Abington, PA with Wilson College in Chambersburg, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Abington is larger than Wilson College based on total student enrollment (2,885 students vs. 1,907 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State Abington is located in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting); Wilson College is in Chambersburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
• Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Wilson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Abington 14:1; Wilson College 15:1.

Penn State Abington vs. Wilson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State Abington or Wilson 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 Penn State Abington than Wilson College ($19,232 vs. $21,748).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wilson College are 15% lower than at Penn State Abington ($12,296 vs. $14,474).
• Wilson College is 77.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Abington (about $11,832 more per year; $27,100.00 vs. $15,268.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5.6% higher at Wilson College than at Penn State Abington (about $1,436 more per year; $27,100.00 vs. $25,664.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wilson College than at Penn State Abington (97% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Wilson College students is 79.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Abington students ($17,736 vs. $9,883).

Penn State Abington vs. Wilson College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State Abington or Wilson 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 Wilson College and Penn State Abington.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 110 points higher than at Wilson College (1060).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 1070/1265; Wilson College 930/1180.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State Abington - Test optional; Wilson College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Wilson College students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.45) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than Wilson College (92.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at Penn State Abington vs. 21.5% at Wilson College.

Penn State Abington vs. Wilson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State Abington and Wilson 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).

• Wilson College's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Wilson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $34,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Wilson College graduates have a $1,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($25,750 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Wilson College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($266 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Wilson College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.