Penn State York vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State York in York, PA with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State York is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (677 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Penn State York is located in York, PA (Midsize Suburban setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Penn State York is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State York 14:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Penn State York vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Penn State York or Sweet Briar 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 York than Sweet Briar College ($18,887 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sweet Briar College are 0.3% lower than at Penn State York ($15,230 vs. $15,274).
• Sweet Briar College is 72% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State York (about $10,952 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3% higher at Sweet Briar College than at Penn State York (about $768 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at Penn State York (99% vs. 80%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 155.7% larger than aid received by Penn State York students ($22,387 vs. $8,756).

Penn State York vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Penn State York or Sweet Briar 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 Sweet Briar College and Penn State York.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sweet Briar College (1210) is 60 points higher than at Penn State York (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State York 1050/1245; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Penn State York 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Penn State York - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Penn State York has a higher acceptance rate (97.4%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at Penn State York vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Penn State York vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Penn State York and Sweet Briar 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Penn State York's (45%).
• Graduates from Penn State York earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State York graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State York graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sweet Briar College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State York students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 69%)

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.