SCSU vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

Compare Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, CT with Plaza College in Forest Hills, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Southern Connecticut State University is larger than Plaza College based on total student enrollment (9,377 students vs. 1,002 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Southern Connecticut State University is located in New Haven, CT (Midsize City setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Southern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Southern Connecticut State University 11:1; Plaza College 28:1.

SCSU vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SCSU 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 Southern Connecticut State University than Plaza College ($19,827 vs. $19,860).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Connecticut State University are 3.6% lower than at Plaza College ($14,938 vs. $15,500).
• Plaza College is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than SCSU (about $2,012 more per year; $15,450.00 vs. $13,438.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 77.2% higher at SCSU than at Plaza College (about $11,928 more per year; $27,378.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Plaza College than at Southern Connecticut State University (93% vs. 78%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Connecticut State University students is 49.7% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($9,977 vs. $6,665).

SCSU vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SCSU 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 SCSU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SCSU - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• SCSU has a higher acceptance rate (91.5%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.6% at SCSU vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

SCSU vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SCSU 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 Southern Connecticut State University earn a median of about $18,500 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($45,800 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $9,335 lower median loan debt than SCSU graduates ($13,915 vs. $23,250).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $97 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than SCSU graduates ($143 vs. $240).
• More SCSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (62% 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.