ATU vs. WestConn

Should I go to Arkansas Tech University or Western Connecticut State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if ATU or WestConn 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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Arkansas Tech University vs. Western Connecticut State University comparison
Arkansas Tech University Western Connecticut State University College 3 College 4
Arkansas Tech University Western Connecticut State University
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Overview

ATU WestConn
Location Russellville, AR Danbury, CT
Setting Remote Town Small City
Enrollment 9,487 4,137
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #927 #506
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website atu.edu wcsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

ATU WestConn
Tuition (In State) $5,995 $6,664
Tuition (Out of State) $11,989 $9,996
Room & Board $9,852 $15,131
Avg Net Price $11,443 $16,527
Avg Grant Aid $9,680 $7,943
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 63%

Admission

ATU WestConn
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,904 5,457
Admitted 4,722 4,440
Acceptance Rate 96.3% 81.4%
Enrolled % 31.1% 16%
Avg High School GPA 3.37 3.38
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/24 20/27
SAT Range 940/1150 840/1150
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

ATU WestConn
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (23%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (5%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (12%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • Education (8%)

Outcomes

ATU WestConn
Graduation Rate 43% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $37,100 $47,400
Making Student Loan Payments 51% 65%
Median Student Loan Debt $17,750 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $183 $258

Diversity

ATU WestConn
% Men 3% 4%
% Women 4% 10%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 61%
% Black 10% 12%
% Hispanic 6% 18%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 4% 0%
% Unknown Race 0% 3%

Students

ATU WestConn
% In-State 94% 71%
% Out-of-State 5% 29%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Arkansas Tech University is larger than than WestConn based on total student enrollment (9,487 students vs. 4,137 students)

ATU vs. WestConn Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ATU or WestConn?

  • Western Connecticut State University is 11.2% more expensive to attend than ATU for in-state tuition ($6,664.00 vs. $5,995.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 19.9% higher at ATU than Western Connecticut State University ($11,989.00 vs. $9,996.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Arkansas Tech University than WestConn ($11,443 vs. $16,527)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Arkansas Tech University are 53.6% lower than costs at Western Connecticut State University ($9,852 vs. $15,131)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Arkansas Tech University than Western Connecticut State University (93% vs. 63%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Arkansas Tech University students is 21.9% larger than aid received Western Connecticut State University ($9,680 vs. $7,943)

ATU vs. WestConn Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman WestConn students have a 0.01 point higher average high school GPA (3.38) than students at ATU (3.37)
  • ATU has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than WestConn (81.4%)

ATU vs. WestConn Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, ATU or WestConn? 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 WestConn and ATU.

  • The graduation rate at ATU is higher than Western Connecticut State University (43% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Western Connecticut State University earn on average $10,300 more per year than ATU graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $37,100)
  • Arkansas Tech University students graduate with a $7,250 lower median federal student loan debt than WestConn graduates. ($17,750 vs. $25,000)
  • ATU graduates are paying $75 less per month on federal student loans than WestConn graduates. ($183 vs. $258)
  • More WestConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ATU students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 51%)

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