Nichols vs. Penn State Hazleton

Comparable Facts

Compare Nichols College in Dudley, MA with Penn State Hazleton in Hazleton, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Nichols College is larger than Penn State Hazleton based on total student enrollment (1,392 students vs. 502 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Nichols College is located in Dudley, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Hazleton is in Hazleton, PA (Small Suburban setting).
• Nichols College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Hazleton is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Nichols College 15:1; Penn State Hazleton 12:1.

Nichols vs. Penn State Hazleton Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols or Penn State Hazleton? 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 Penn State Hazleton than Nichols ($17,512 vs. $32,337).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Hazleton are 8.4% lower than at Nichols College ($14,474 vs. $15,800).
• Nichols College is 180.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Hazleton (about $27,497 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 68.2% higher at Nichols than at Penn State Hazleton (about $17,313 more per year; $42,705.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Nichols College than at Penn State Hazleton (99% vs. 91%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 105.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Hazleton students ($25,809 vs. $12,532).

Nichols vs. Penn State Hazleton Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols or Penn State Hazleton? 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 Hazleton and Nichols.

• Nichols College reports an open admissions policy.
• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Hazleton (1190) is 60 points higher than at Nichols (1130).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Nichols College 1028/1236; Penn State Hazleton 1090/1290.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Nichols - Open admission; Penn State Hazleton - Test optional.
• Penn State Hazleton has a higher acceptance rate (96.4%) than Nichols (80.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.1% at Nichols vs. 25.9% at Penn State Hazleton.

Nichols vs. Penn State Hazleton Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Nichols and Penn State Hazleton? 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).

• Penn State Hazleton's six-year graduation rate (52%) is higher than Nichols College's (43%).
• Graduates from Penn State Hazleton earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Nichols graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Hazleton graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Nichols graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Hazleton graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Nichols graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Hazleton graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Nichols 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.