WestConn vs. SUNY-Potsdam

Comparable Facts

Compare Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT with SUNY College at Potsdam in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Western Connecticut State University is larger than SUNY-Potsdam based on total student enrollment (4,169 students vs. 2,832 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Western Connecticut State University is located in Danbury, CT (Small City setting); SUNY College at Potsdam is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
• Western Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College at Potsdam is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Western Connecticut State University 11:1; SUNY College at Potsdam 11:1.

WestConn vs. SUNY-Potsdam Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WestConn or SUNY-Potsdam? 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 SUNY College at Potsdam than WestConn ($13,730 vs. $17,185).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Potsdam are 2.4% lower than at Western Connecticut State University ($15,280 vs. $15,659).
• Western Connecticut State University is 52.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-Potsdam (about $4,633 more per year; $13,401.00 vs. $8,768.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 10.5% higher at SUNY-Potsdam than at Western Connecticut State University (about $1,777 more per year; $18,678.00 vs. $16,901.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at SUNY College at Potsdam than at Western Connecticut State University (93% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Western Connecticut State University students is 15.5% larger than aid received by SUNY College at Potsdam students ($12,870 vs. $11,147).

WestConn vs. SUNY-Potsdam Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WestConn or SUNY-Potsdam? 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 SUNY-Potsdam and WestConn.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Western Connecticut State University 1040/1170.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WestConn - Test optional; SUNY-Potsdam - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman WestConn students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at SUNY-Potsdam (3.3).
• WestConn has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than SUNY-Potsdam (77.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at WestConn vs. 10% at SUNY-Potsdam.

WestConn vs. SUNY-Potsdam Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WestConn and SUNY-Potsdam? 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).

• SUNY College at Potsdam's six-year graduation rate (51%) is higher than Western Connecticut State University's (40%).
• Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn a median of about $8,300 more per year than SUNY-Potsdam graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,400 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY College at Potsdam and WestConn graduates have the same median loan debt ($25,000 vs. $25,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, SUNY College at Potsdam and WestConn graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($258 vs. $258).
• More WestConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY-Potsdam students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 60%)

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.