SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• State University of New York at Cortland is located in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: State University of New York at Cortland 15:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Cortland or Penn State Abington? 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 SUNY Cortland ($19,232 vs. $19,847).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Abington are 7% lower than at State University of New York at Cortland ($14,474 vs. $15,560).
• Penn State Abington is 72.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $6,394 more per year; $15,268.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.6% higher at Penn State Abington than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $6,880 more per year; $25,664.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Abington than at State University of New York at Cortland (80% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Abington students is 19.7% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($9,883 vs. $8,254).

SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Cortland or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington and SUNY Cortland.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at State University of New York at Cortland (1170) is the same as at Penn State Abington (1170).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at SUNY Cortland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 22/27; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Cortland - Test-free; Penn State Abington - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Penn State Abington (3.42).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.3% at SUNY Cortland vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Cortland and Penn State Abington? 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).

• State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($222 vs. $277).
• More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Abington students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.