WestConn vs. Fitchburg State

Should I go to Western Connecticut State University or Fitchburg State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if WestConn or Fitchburg State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Western Connecticut State University vs. Fitchburg State University comparison
Western Connecticut State University Fitchburg State University College 3 College 4
Western Connecticut State University Fitchburg State University
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Overview

 WestConn Fitchburg State
Location Danbury, CT Fitchburg, MA
Setting Small City Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 4,417 6,554
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #466 #549
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website wcsu.edu fitchburgstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 WestConn Fitchburg State
Tuition (In State) $6,464 $970
Tuition (Out of State) $19,358 $7,050
Room & Board $14,568 $13,516
Avg Net Price $15,862 $15,535
Avg Grant Aid $9,057 $7,093
% Receiving Grant Aid 72% 76%

Admission

 WestConn Fitchburg State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 3,084
Admitted 4,253 2,654
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 86.1%
Enrolled % 14.8% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.38 3.29
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Average Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/29 22/28
SAT Range 1010/1230 1020/1220
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

 WestConn Fitchburg State
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • General Studies (16%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (14%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Health Professions (6%)

Outcomes

 WestConn Fitchburg State
Graduation Rate 40% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $47,400 $44,000
Making Student Loan Payments 65% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $22,685
Median Loan Payment $258 $234

Diversity

 WestConn Fitchburg State
% Men 45% 38%
% Women 55% 62%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 61% 73%
% Black 12% 9%
% Hispanic 18% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 0% 1%
% Unknown Race 3% 1%

Students

 WestConn Fitchburg State
% In-State 70% 90%
% Out-of-State 30% 10%

Campus

 WestConn Fitchburg State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Fitchburg State University is larger than than WestConn based on total student enrollment (6,554 students vs. 4,417 students)

WestConn vs. Fitchburg State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WestConn or Fitchburg State?

  • Western Connecticut State University is 566.4% more expensive to attend than Fitchburg State for in-state tuition ($6,464.00 vs. $970.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 174.6% higher at WestConn than Fitchburg State University ($19,358.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Fitchburg State University than WestConn ($15,535 vs. $15,862)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fitchburg State University are 7.8% lower than costs at Western Connecticut State University ($13,516 vs. $14,568)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Fitchburg State University than Western Connecticut State University (76% vs. 72%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western Connecticut State University students is 27.7% larger than aid received Fitchburg State University ($9,057 vs. $7,093)

WestConn vs. Fitchburg State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WestConn or Fitchburg State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Fitchburg State or WestConn .

  • Accepted freshman WestConn students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at Fitchburg State (3.29)
  • Fitchburg State has a higher acceptance rate (86.1%) than WestConn (83.5%)

WestConn vs. Fitchburg State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, WestConn or Fitchburg State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Fitchburg State and WestConn.

  • The graduation rate at Fitchburg State is higher than Western Connecticut State University (47% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn on average $3,400 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $44,000)
  • Fitchburg State University students graduate with a $2,315 lower median federal student loan debt than WestConn graduates. ($22,685 vs. $25,000)
  • Fitchburg State graduates are paying $24 less per month on federal student loans than WestConn graduates. ($234 vs. $258)
  • More Fitchburg State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WestConn students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 65%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/