ECU vs. Penn State Abington

Comparable Facts

Compare East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with Penn State Abington in Abington, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

East Carolina University is larger than Penn State Abington based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Penn State Abington is in Abington, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Abington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Penn State Abington 14:1.

ECU vs. Penn State Abington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or Penn State Abington? 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 East Carolina University than Penn State Abington ($13,755 vs. $19,232).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 20.3% lower than at Penn State Abington ($11,541 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Abington is 107.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $7,907 more per year; $15,268.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.6% higher at Penn State Abington than at East Carolina University (about $2,026 more per year; $25,664.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Abington than at East Carolina University (80% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Abington students is 1.1% larger than aid received by East Carolina University students ($9,883 vs. $9,776).

ECU vs. Penn State Abington Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECU or Penn State Abington? 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 Penn State Abington and ECU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Abington (1170) is 10 points higher than at ECU (1160).
• Incoming Penn State Abington students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 23 at ECU).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Penn State Abington 1070/1265.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26; Penn State Abington 23/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Penn State Abington - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Accepted freshman Penn State Abington students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at ECU (3.33).
• Penn State Abington has a higher acceptance rate (96.8%) than ECU (89.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 11.2% at Penn State Abington.

ECU vs. Penn State Abington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and Penn State Abington? 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).

• East Carolina University's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Penn State Abington's (44%).
• Graduates from Penn State Abington earn a median of about $11,400 more per year than ECU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $43,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, East Carolina University graduates have a $2,030 lower median loan debt than Penn State Abington graduates ($24,788 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Abington graduates ($256 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Abington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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.