Skidmore College vs Ursinus College

Skidmore College and Ursinus College, both esteemed liberal arts institutions, offer distinct educational experiences. Skidmore, located in Saratoga Springs, New York, boasts a higher acceptance rate (58%) compared to Ursinus's 49%. Skidmore's student body is more diverse, with international students comprising 12% of the population, while Ursinus has a predominantly domestic student body. In terms of academics, Skidmore offers a wider range of majors, including popular choices like business, psychology, and health sciences, while Ursinus focuses on the humanities and social sciences. Skidmore's graduation rate stands at 86%, slightly higher than Ursinus's 83%. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more key differences and make an informed decision about which college aligns best with your aspirations.

	Skidmore College	Ursinus College
Overview
Location	Saratoga Springs, New York	Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Campus setting	Suburb: Small	Suburb: Large
College type	4 year	4 year
Control/business model	Private (Non Profit)	Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system	Semester	Semester
Degrees offered	Undergraduate	Undergraduate
Students retention rate	90.0%	85.0%
Common app member	Yes	Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission
Acceptance rate	30.6%	82.7%
Application fees	$65
SAT range	1270 - 1440	1200 - 1360
ACT range	29 - 33	27 - 32
Students submitting SAT score	26.0%	34.0%
Students submitting ACT score	11.0%	9.0%
Total number of applicants	11,176	3,818
Total number of admissions given out	3,419	3,158
Admitted students who chose to enroll	719	433
Yield rate	21.0%	13.7%
Test scores (SAT/ACT)	N/A	N/A
High school GPA	Not required	Required
Recommendation letters	Required	Required
High school transcript	Not required	Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL)	Required	Required

Tuition and Fees
Sticker price	$68,266	$73,982
Average net price	$31,553	$31,438
Tuition	$59,064	$56,600
Room & board	Room/dormitory: $9,500 Meal plan: $6,568	Room/dormitory: $9,230 Meal plan: $4,830
Available payment plans	Prepaid tuition plan Tuition payment plan	Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid
Students receiving financial aid (Grants & scholarships)	59.0% Average amount $43,391	100.0% Average amount $39,622
Students receiving federal student loan	39.0% Average amount $4,879	69.0% Average amount $5,630
Students taking out private loans	4.0% Average amount $26,954	16.0% Average amount $18,143

Students and Campus
Undergraduate students	2,686 Men 40.8% Women 59.2%	1,556 Men 52.2% Women 47.8%
Graduate students	N/A	N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity	Low	Low
Out-of-state students	68.4%	42.4%
International students	9.1%	0.9%
Campus local/setting	Suburb: Small	Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity	2,188	1,510
First year students are required to live on campus?	No	No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from	New York Mississippi Connecticut New Jersey California	Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland New York Connecticut

Academics
Popular study areas	Biological and Biomedical Sciences Social Sciences Visual & Performing Arts Education Foreign Languages and Literatures	Biological and Biomedical Sciences Visual & Performing Arts English Language and Literature Physical Science Foreign Languages and Literatures
Students to faculty ratio	8:1	10:1
Institutional accreditation	Middle States Commission on Higher Education	Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome
Graduation rate	83.6%	72.5%
Dropout rate	3.5%	27.3%
Transferred out	12.6%	N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)	Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $49,572 Year 2: $46,087 Year 3: $67,188 Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $50,235 Year 2: $43,575 Year 3: $56,001 International Relations and National Security Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $41,193 Year 3: $43,062 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $34,416 Year 2: $36,668 Year 3: $40,557 Political Science and Government (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $35,722 Year 2: $32,563 Year 3: $39,834 English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,677 Year 2: $26,933 Year 3: $37,589 Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $29,585 Year 2: $20,682 Year 3: $30,907 Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $24,359 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,085 Year 2: N/A Year 3: N/A Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: N/A	Economics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $46,186 Year 2: $47,650 Year 3: $61,215 Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $33,137 Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: $48,478 Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $29,123 Year 2: $33,993 Year 3: $40,114 Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $32,195 Year 2: $31,133 Year 3: $38,857 Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $27,243 Year 2: $26,933 Year 3: $37,740 Natural Resources Conservation and Research (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $26,345 Year 2: $27,439 Year 3: N/A Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: N/A Year 2: $67,995 Year 3: N/A Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $18,847 Year 2: $25,194 Year 3: N/A English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $23,394 Year 2: $36,668 Year 3: N/A Neurobiology and Neurosciences (Bachelor's Degrees) Year 1: $29,582 Year 2: $33,281 Year 3: N/A

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key differences in academic focus between Skidmore College and Ursinus College?

Skidmore College emphasizes a liberal arts education with a strong focus on the creative arts, offering programs like dance, theater, and studio art alongside traditional disciplines. Ursinus College, while also rooted in the liberal arts, is known for its Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) and a focus on interdisciplinary learning and preparing students for lives of purpose and leadership. Ursinus also has a strong pre-health program.
How do the campus environments and locations compare?

Skidmore College is located in Saratoga Springs, New York, a vibrant city known for its arts, culture, and natural beauty. The campus is suburban and offers a blend of academic and recreational opportunities. Ursinus College is situated in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, a smaller town near Philadelphia. Its campus provides a more intimate and close-knit community feel, with easy access to a major metropolitan area.
What is the typical class size and student-faculty ratio at each college?

Skidmore College generally has smaller class sizes, with a student-faculty ratio of around 8:1. This allows for more personalized attention and interaction with professors. Ursinus College also boasts a low student-faculty ratio, typically around 12:1, fostering a supportive learning environment with close relationships between students and faculty.
How do the colleges differ in terms of their approach to undergraduate research?

Both Skidmore and Ursinus Colleges highly value undergraduate research. Skidmore provides opportunities through faculty-student collaborative research grants and summer research programs, particularly strong in the sciences and arts. Ursinus emphasizes research through its Summer Fellows program and encourages students to engage in research across all disciplines, often presenting their findings at national conferences. Ursinus's CIE program also incorporates research skills.
What are the strengths of each college's career services and internship programs?

Skidmore College's Career Development Center offers extensive resources for internships, networking, and career exploration, leveraging its location near Albany and New York City for opportunities in various fields, especially the arts and business. Ursinus College's Career and Professional Development office focuses on personalized career advising, internship placement, and connecting students with alumni networks, particularly strong in the Philadelphia area and in fields like healthcare and finance.
How do the costs of attendance compare between Skidmore College and Ursinus College?

The cost of attendance at both Skidmore and Ursinus is relatively similar, placing them among private liberal arts colleges with comparable tuition and fees. It's important to check the most recent figures on each college's website for the most accurate information. Both institutions offer financial aid and scholarships to eligible students, so exploring those options is crucial.
What are the popular majors at Skidmore College and Ursinus College?

At Skidmore College, popular majors include Business, English, Psychology, Theater, and Art. At Ursinus College, popular majors include Biology, Business and Economics, Psychology, Politics, and English. Both colleges offer a wide range of programs, but these represent areas of particular strength and student interest.
What are the athletic programs like at Skidmore College and Ursinus College?

Skidmore College competes in NCAA Division III athletics, with a strong emphasis on sports like ice hockey, field hockey, and equestrian. Ursinus College also competes in NCAA Division III, with notable programs in football, field hockey, and lacrosse. Both colleges offer a variety of varsity and intramural sports, providing opportunities for students to participate at different levels.
How do the residential life and campus culture differ between the two colleges?

Skidmore College's residential life is known for its vibrant social scene and active student government. The campus culture emphasizes creativity, individuality, and social engagement. Ursinus College fosters a close-knit community with a strong emphasis on tradition and student involvement. Residential life is centered around smaller dorms and a focus on building relationships within the campus community. Ursinus also has a strong Greek life presence.
What are some unique programs or opportunities offered by each college?

Skidmore College offers the University Without Walls program for adult learners and is known for its Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery. Ursinus College is distinguished by its Common Intellectual Experience (CIE) program, which provides a shared academic foundation for all students, and its strong focus on social justice and community engagement.

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