Fisher College vs Principia College

Fisher College and Principia College, two distinct institutions of higher learning, offer unique educational experiences to their students. Fisher College, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is a private, coeducational college known for its career-focused programs and urban setting. In contrast, Principia College, situated in Elsah, Illinois, is a private, Christian Science college that emphasizes spiritual growth and community engagement. While both colleges share a commitment to academic excellence, they differ in several key aspects, including acceptance rates, popular majors, student body demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover the nuances that set these two colleges apart and determine which one aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Fisher College logo

Fisher College

Principia College logo

Principia College

Overview

Location Boston, Massachusetts Elsah, Illinois
Campus setting City: Large Rural: Fringe
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Private (Non Profit)
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 54.0% 81.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 72.4% 84.1%
Application fees $50
SAT range 800 - 1070 1028 - 1193
ACT range 15 - 24 21 - 28
Students submitting SAT score 7.0% 30.0%
Students submitting ACT score 2.0% 13.0%
Total number of applicants 2,897 138
Total number of admissions given out 2,096 116
Admitted students who chose to enroll 197 79
Yield rate 9.4% 68.1%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Not required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $48,700 $42,820
Average net price $26,130 $19,816
Tuition $32,500 $29,970
Room & board $17,000
Room/dormitory: $5,810

Meal plan: $6,460
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $23,143
94.0%
Average amount $25,174
Students receiving federal student loan 90.0%
Average amount $4,775
0.0%
Average amount $0
Students taking out private loans 8.0%
Average amount $14,653
94.0%
Average amount $2,016

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 1,253
Men 31.2% Women 68.8%
321
Men 53.0% Women 47.0%
Graduate students 114
Men 32.5% Women 67.5%
N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 92.7%
International students 7.5% 24.3%
Campus local/setting City: Large Rural: Fringe
Dormitory capacity 289 585
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from N/A Missouri California Texas Illinois Ohio

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Health Professions
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Psychology
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Social Sciences
  • Business
Students to faculty ratio 12:1 5:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Higher Learning Commission

Outcome

Graduation rate 35.6% 85.9%
Dropout rate 24.1% 14.1%
Transferred out 39.9% N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,000
  • Year 2: $51,273
  • Year 3: $54,028
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $38,558
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $38,245
Human Services, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,767
  • Year 2: $34,793
  • Year 3: $32,617
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,973
  • Year 2: $28,598
  • Year 3: $28,751
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,460
  • Year 2: $39,927
  • Year 3: N/A
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,628
  • Year 2: $26,353
  • Year 3: N/A
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,807
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,111
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: N/A
Health and Medical Administrative Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $53,480
  • Year 2: $45,715
  • Year 3: N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,472
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: N/A
N/A

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