ECSU vs. Ship

Deciding between Eastern Connecticut State University and Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Eastern Connecticut State University
Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • ECSU Willimantic, CT
  • Ship Shippensburg, PA
  • Setting
  • ECSU Distant Town
  • Ship Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • ECSU 4,355
  • Ship 5,161
  • Type
  • ECSU Public 4 Year
  • Ship Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • ECSU #547
  • Ship #700
  • Religious Affiliation
  • ECSU -
  • Ship -
  • Status
  • ECSU Non-profit
  • Ship Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • ECSU
  • Ship
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • ECSU $13,928
  • Ship $13,720
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • ECSU $17,428
  • Ship $15,974
  • Room & Board
  • ECSU $17,445
  • Ship $13,340
  • Average Net Price
  • ECSU $21,512
  • Ship $23,772
  • Average Grant Aid
  • ECSU $10,480
  • Ship $6,756
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • ECSU 94%
  • Ship 90%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • ECSU 6,491
  • Ship 7,224
  • Admitted
  • ECSU 5,386
  • Ship 6,249
  • Acceptance Rate
  • ECSU 83%
  • Ship 86.5%
  • Enrolled
  • ECSU 15%
  • Ship 17.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • ECSU 1170
  • Ship 1100
  • Typical ACT score
  • ECSU
  • Ship
  • Average High School GPA
  • ECSU 3.4
  • Ship 3.23
  • Typical High School Grades
  • ECSU B+
  • Ship B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • ECSU Average
  • Ship Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • ECSU
  • Ship
  • ACT Range
  • ECSU
  • Ship
  • SAT Range
  • ECSU 1070/1260
  • Ship 990/1210
  • Submit Test Scores
  • ECSU Test optional
  • Ship Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • ECSU
  • Ship
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • ECSU 15:1
  • Ship 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • ECSU
    • Business (16%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (11%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Communication (7%)
  • Ship
    • Business (26%)
    • Education (13%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • ECSU 49%
  • Ship 60%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • ECSU $46,400
  • Ship $47,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • ECSU 68%
  • Ship 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • ECSU $23,000
  • Ship $25,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • ECSU $237
  • Ship $258
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • ECSU 41%
  • Ship 45%
  • % Women
  • ECSU 59%
  • Ship 55%
  • Racial Diversity
  • ECSU Medium
  • Ship Low
  • HBCU
  • ECSU No
  • Ship No
  • % White
  • ECSU 67%
  • Ship 78%
  • % Asian
  • ECSU 3%
  • Ship 1%
  • % Black
  • ECSU 7%
  • Ship 10%
  • % Hispanic
  • ECSU 10%
  • Ship 5%
  • % Native American
  • ECSU 0%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • ECSU 0%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • ECSU 3%
  • Ship 3%
  • % International
  • ECSU 1%
  • Ship 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • ECSU 9%
  • Ship 1%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • ECSU 89%
  • Ship 90%
  • % Out-of-State
  • ECSU 11%
  • Ship 10%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • ECSU Yes
  • Ship Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • ECSU No
  • Ship No
  • Meal Plan
  • ECSU Yes
  • Ship Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • ECSU Yes
  • Ship No
  • Daycare Facility
  • ECSU No
  • Ship Yes

Comparable Facts

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

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is larger than ECSU based on total student enrollment (5,161 students vs. 4,355 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Eastern Connecticut State University is located in Willimantic, CT (Distant Town setting); Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is in Shippensburg, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Eastern Connecticut State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Eastern Connecticut State University 15:1; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 18:1.

ECSU vs. Ship Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, ECSU or Ship? 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 Ship ($21,512 vs. $23,772).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania are 23.5% lower than at Eastern Connecticut State University ($13,340 vs. $17,445).
  • Eastern Connecticut State University is 1.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Ship (about $208 more per year; $13,928.00 vs. $13,720.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9.1% higher at ECSU than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (about $1,454 more per year; $17,428.00 vs. $15,974.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Eastern Connecticut State University than at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania (94% vs. 90%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern Connecticut State University students is 55.1% larger than aid received by Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania students ($10,480 vs. $6,756).

ECSU vs. Ship Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, ECSU or Ship? 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 Ship and ECSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Eastern Connecticut State University (1170) is 70 points higher than at Ship (1100).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Eastern Connecticut State University 1070/1260; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 990/1210.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: ECSU - Test optional; Ship - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman ECSU students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Ship (3.23).
  • Ship has a higher acceptance rate (86.5%) than ECSU (83%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15% at ECSU vs. 17.5% at Ship.

ECSU vs. Ship Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for ECSU and Ship? 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).

  • Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania's six-year graduation rate (60%) is higher than Eastern Connecticut State University's (49%).
  • Graduates from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania earn a median of about $800 more per year than ECSU graduates about ten years after starting college ($47,200 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Eastern Connecticut State University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Ship graduates ($23,000 vs. $25,000).
  • Among borrowers, ECSU graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Ship graduates ($237 vs. $258).
  • More Ship graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ECSU students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.