TCNJ vs. EC

Deciding between The College of New Jersey and Elmira College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

The College of New Jersey
Elmira College

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • TCNJ Ewing, NJ
  • EC Elmira, NY
  • Setting
  • TCNJ Large Suburban
  • EC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • TCNJ 8,141
  • EC 786
  • Type
  • TCNJ Public 4 Year
  • EC Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • TCNJ #177
  • EC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • TCNJ -
  • EC -
  • Status
  • TCNJ Non-profit
  • EC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • TCNJ
  • EC
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • TCNJ $19,632
  • EC $38,976
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • TCNJ $25,752
  • EC $38,976
  • Room & Board
  • TCNJ $14,976
  • EC $14,550
  • Average Net Price
  • TCNJ $25,580
  • EC $23,682
  • Average Grant Aid
  • TCNJ $13,360
  • EC $28,780
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • TCNJ 59%
  • EC 100%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • TCNJ 12,766
  • EC 2,674
  • Admitted
  • TCNJ 7,952
  • EC 2,058
  • Acceptance Rate
  • TCNJ 62.3%
  • EC 77%
  • Enrolled
  • TCNJ 19.7%
  • EC 12.3%
  • Typical SAT score
  • TCNJ 1240
  • EC 1240
  • Typical ACT score
  • TCNJ 28
  • EC 27
  • Average High School GPA
  • TCNJ 3.29
  • EC 3.22
  • Typical High School Grades
  • TCNJ B+
  • EC B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • TCNJ Difficult
  • EC Difficult
  • Applicant Competition
  • TCNJ Low
  • EC
  • ACT Range
  • TCNJ 26/31
  • EC 26/29
  • SAT Range
  • TCNJ 1140/1340
  • EC 1090/1385
  • Submit Test Scores
  • TCNJ Test optional
  • EC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • TCNJ Feb 1, 2027
  • EC
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • TCNJ 14:1
  • EC 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • TCNJ
    • Education (22%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • EC
    • Education (18%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • TCNJ 87%
  • EC 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • TCNJ $62,100
  • EC $46,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • TCNJ 85%
  • EC 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • TCNJ $23,250
  • EC $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • TCNJ $240
  • EC $279
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • TCNJ 43%
  • EC 34%
  • % Women
  • TCNJ 57%
  • EC 66%
  • Racial Diversity
  • TCNJ Medium
  • EC Low
  • HBCU
  • TCNJ No
  • EC No
  • % White
  • TCNJ 66%
  • EC 80%
  • % Asian
  • TCNJ 10%
  • EC 2%
  • % Black
  • TCNJ 6%
  • EC 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • TCNJ 12%
  • EC 3%
  • % Native American
  • TCNJ 0%
  • EC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • TCNJ 0%
  • EC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • TCNJ 0%
  • EC 2%
  • % International
  • TCNJ 0%
  • EC 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • TCNJ 5%
  • EC 4%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • TCNJ 95%
  • EC 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • TCNJ 5%
  • EC 25%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • TCNJ Yes
  • EC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • TCNJ No
  • EC No
  • Meal Plan
  • TCNJ Yes
  • EC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • TCNJ No
  • EC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • TCNJ No
  • EC No

Comparable Facts

Compare The College of New Jersey in Ewing, NJ with Elmira College in Elmira, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

The College of New Jersey is larger than EC based on total student enrollment (8,141 students vs. 786 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The College of New Jersey is located in Ewing, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Elmira College is in Elmira, NY (Small City setting).
  • The College of New Jersey is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Elmira College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The College of New Jersey 14:1; Elmira College 11:1.

TCNJ vs. EC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, TCNJ or EC? 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 Elmira College than TCNJ ($23,682 vs. $25,580).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elmira College are 2.8% lower than at The College of New Jersey ($14,550 vs. $14,976).
  • Elmira College is 98.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than TCNJ (about $19,344 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $19,632.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 51.4% higher at EC than at The College of New Jersey (about $13,224 more per year; $38,976.00 vs. $25,752.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Elmira College than at The College of New Jersey (100% vs. 59%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmira College students is 115.4% larger than aid received by The College of New Jersey students ($28,780 vs. $13,360).

TCNJ vs. EC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, TCNJ or EC? 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 EC and TCNJ.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at The College of New Jersey (1240) is the same as at EC (1240).
  • Incoming TCNJ students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 27 at EC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 1140/1340; Elmira College 1090/1385.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: The College of New Jersey 26/31; Elmira College 26/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: TCNJ - Test optional; EC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: TCNJ Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman TCNJ students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at EC (3.22).
  • EC has a higher acceptance rate (77%) than TCNJ (62.3%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.7% at TCNJ vs. 12.3% at EC.

TCNJ vs. EC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for TCNJ and EC? 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).

  • The College of New Jersey's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Elmira College's (60%).
  • Graduates from The College of New Jersey earn a median of about $16,100 more per year than EC graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,100 vs. $46,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The College of New Jersey graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than EC graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, TCNJ graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than EC graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More TCNJ graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former EC students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 72%)

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.