ECU vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

East Carolina University is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (26,940 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• East Carolina University is located in Greenville, NC (Small City setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• East Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: East Carolina University 17:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

ECU vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECU or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine ($13,755 vs. $22,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Carolina University are 20.3% lower than at Penn State Brandywine ($11,541 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Brandywine is 106.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECU (about $7,847 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $7,361.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 7.4% higher at Penn State Brandywine than at East Carolina University (about $1,754 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $23,638.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Brandywine than at East Carolina University (73% vs. 55%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by East Carolina University students is 7.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($9,776 vs. $9,113).

ECU vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 40 points higher than at ECU (1160).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 1070/1240; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: East Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECU - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Penn State Brandywine - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than ECU (89.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at ECU vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

ECU vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECU and Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates ($24,788 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($256 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Brandywine 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.