ECSU vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

Compare Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, CT with Penn State Brandywine in Media, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Eastern Connecticut State University is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (4,355 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

ECSU vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU 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 Eastern Connecticut State University than Penn State Brandywine ($21,512 vs. $22,710).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 17% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($14,474 vs. $17,445).
• Penn State Brandywine is 9.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than ECSU (about $1,280 more per year; $15,208.00 vs. $13,928.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 45.7% higher at Penn State Brandywine than at Eastern Connecticut State University (about $7,964 more per year; $25,392.00 vs. $17,428.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University than at Penn State Brandywine (94% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 15% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($10,480 vs. $9,113).

ECSU vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU 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 ECSU.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Brandywine (1200) is 30 points higher than at ECSU (1170).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than ECSU (83%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

ECSU vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU 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).

• Eastern Connecticut State University's six-year graduation rate (49%) is higher than Penn State Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Connecticut State University graduates have a $3,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, ECSU graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Brandywine graduates ($237 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Brandywine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.