SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare State University of New York at Cortland in Cortland, NY with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

State University of New York at Cortland is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (6,938 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• State University of New York at Cortland is located in Cortland, NY (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• State University of New York at Cortland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: State University of New York at Cortland 15:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SUNY Cortland or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver than SUNY Cortland ($18,581 vs. $19,847).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 7% lower than at State University of New York at Cortland ($14,474 vs. $15,560).
• Penn State Beaver is 62.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY Cortland (about $5,534 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $8,874.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 28.5% higher at Penn State Beaver than at State University of New York at Cortland (about $5,350 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $18,784.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Beaver than at State University of New York at Cortland (88% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Beaver students is 9.6% larger than aid received by State University of New York at Cortland students ($9,045 vs. $8,254).

SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, SUNY Cortland or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver and SUNY Cortland.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 20 points higher than at SUNY Cortland (1170).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at SUNY Cortland).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 1090/1240; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: State University of New York at Cortland 22/27; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: SUNY Cortland - Test-free; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.3% at SUNY Cortland vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

SUNY Cortland vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for SUNY Cortland and Penn State Beaver? 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).

• State University of New York at Cortland's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $8,000 more per year than SUNY Cortland graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, State University of New York at Cortland graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, SUNY Cortland graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($222 vs. $277).
• More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 69%)

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.