Empire State University vs. CW

Comparable Facts

Compare Empire State University in Saratoga Springs, NY with The College of Westchester in White Plains, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Empire State University is larger than CW based on total student enrollment (10,469 students vs. 759 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Empire State University is located in Saratoga Springs, NY (Small Suburban setting); The College of Westchester is in White Plains, NY (Small City setting).
• Empire State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. The College of Westchester is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Empire State University 17:1; The College of Westchester 19:1.

Empire State University vs. CW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Empire State University or CW? 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 Empire State University than CW ($11,659 vs. $15,871).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The College of Westchester are 33.1% lower than at Empire State University ($9,520 vs. $14,230).
• The College of Westchester is 229.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Empire State University (about $17,543 more per year; $25,191.00 vs. $7,648.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 43.5% higher at CW than at Empire State University (about $7,633 more per year; $25,191.00 vs. $17,558.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at The College of Westchester than at Empire State University (100% vs. 82%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by The College of Westchester students is 92.2% larger than aid received by Empire State University students ($15,841 vs. $8,243).

Empire State University vs. CW Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Empire State University or CW? 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 CW and Empire State University.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Empire State University - Not reported; CW - Test-free.

Empire State University vs. CW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Empire State University and CW? 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 Empire State University earn a median of about $6,200 more per year than CW graduates about ten years after starting college ($46,000 vs. $39,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Empire State University graduates have a $644 lower median loan debt than CW graduates ($23,250 vs. $23,894).
• Among borrowers, Empire State University graduates have an estimated $7 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than CW graduates ($240 vs. $247).
• More Empire State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CW students, three years after graduation. (44% vs. 31%)

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.