Long Island University (LIU) vs Western Connecticut State University (WCSU)

Long Island University (LIU) and Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) are two distinct institutions of higher learning, each offering unique opportunities and experiences to their students. LIU, a private university with multiple campuses across New York, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of academic programs, including popular majors like business, health professions, and education. In contrast, WCSU, a public university located in Danbury, Connecticut, prides itself on its small class sizes, strong liberal arts foundation, and focus on undergraduate research. While both universities offer a vibrant campus life and opportunities for personal growth, their acceptance rates, student demographics, and graduation rates vary significantly. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to discover which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Long Island University logo

Long Island University

Western Connecticut State University logo

Western Connecticut State University

Overview

Location Brookville, New York Danbury, Connecticut
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Private (Non Profit) Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 82.0% 69.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 93.3% 84.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 1100 - 1320 N/A
ACT range 24 - 31 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 51.0%
Students submitting ACT score 6.0%
Total number of applicants 17,423 4,688
Total number of admissions given out 16,259 3,978
Admitted students who chose to enroll 1,198 733
Yield rate 7.4% 18.4%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price $68,790
In state: $28,783

Out of state: $42,187
Average net price $22,620 $15,660
Tuition $37,296
In state: $6,162

Out of state: $18,436
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $9,926

Meal plan: $5,732
Room/dormitory: $8,020

Meal plan: $5,856
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

97.0%
Average amount $29,192
78.0%
Average amount $6,312
Students receiving federal student loan 39.0%
Average amount $5,207
58.0%
Average amount $7,417
Students taking out private loans 5.0%
Average amount $18,309
5.0%
Average amount $12,388

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 10,707
Men 37.6% Women 62.4%
4,172
Men 47.6% Women 52.4%
Graduate students 4,484
Men 21.9% Women 78.1%
630
Men 25.4% Women 74.6%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Moderate
Out-of-state students 33.0% 28.6%
International students 3.2% 0.4%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity 2,520 1,315
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York Texas New Jersey California Pennsylvania Connecticut New York New Jersey Mississippi Maine

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Education
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Health Professions
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Visual & Performing Arts
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 11:1
Institutional accreditation Middle States Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 46.8% 52.9%
Dropout rate 13.7% 12.0%
Transferred out 37.9% 31.0%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $105,028
  • Year 2: $113,045
  • Year 3: $123,365
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $111,859
  • Year 2: $109,986
  • Year 3: $119,068
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $93,840
  • Year 2: $109,136
  • Year 3: $116,296
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $113,710
  • Year 2: $106,421
  • Year 3: $115,516
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $94,012
  • Year 2: $94,508
  • Year 3: $100,207
Educational Administration and Supervision (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $107,512
  • Year 2: $98,403
  • Year 3: $98,159
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,520
  • Year 2: $81,158
  • Year 3: $89,001
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (First Professional Degrees)
  • Year 1: $72,968
  • Year 2: $75,518
  • Year 3: $80,006
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Doctoral Degrees)
  • Year 1: $60,097
  • Year 2: $73,949
  • Year 3: $79,939
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,291
  • Year 2: $62,260
  • Year 3: $75,303
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $75,081
  • Year 2: $75,104
  • Year 3: $76,468
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $51,332
  • Year 2: $57,995
  • Year 3: $70,455
Management Information Systems and Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,994
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $65,192
Education, General (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $56,867
  • Year 3: $58,464
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $49,944
  • Year 2: $46,321
  • Year 3: $51,949
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,260
  • Year 2: $41,464
  • Year 3: $50,288
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,672
  • Year 2: $46,087
  • Year 3: $49,639
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,963
  • Year 2: $45,340
  • Year 3: $47,607
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,029
  • Year 2: $41,441
  • Year 3: $44,462
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,205
  • Year 2: $35,877
  • Year 3: $43,291

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