Gannon University vs. Penn State

Should I go to Gannon University or Penn State Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Gannon University or Penn State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Gannon University vs. Penn State Main Campus comparison
Gannon University Penn State Main Campus College 3 College 4
Gannon University Penn State Main Campus
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Overview

Gannon University Penn State
Location Erie, PA University Park, PA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 4,665 50,028
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #451 #167
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gannon.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Gannon University Penn State
Tuition (In State) $35,620 $18,368
Tuition (Out of State) $35,620 $35,946
Room & Board $15,410 $12,744
Avg Net Price $22,200 $26,747
Avg Grant Aid $26,172 $10,066
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 44%

Admission

Gannon University Penn State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,678 85,784
Admitted 5,399 47,360
Acceptance Rate 80.8% 55.2%
Enrolled % 11.9% 19.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.59 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Average Very High
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/28 26/31
SAT Range 990/1250 1210/1390
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline

Academics

Gannon University Penn State
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (29%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (10%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

Gannon University Penn State
Graduation Rate 66% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $52,900 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 67% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $279 $277

Diversity

Gannon University Penn State
% Men 43% 53%
% Women 57% 47%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 76% 69%
% Black 5% 4%
% Hispanic 3% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 9% 11%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

Gannon University Penn State
% In-State 54% 51%
% Out-of-State 26% 40%

Campus

Gannon University Penn State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Gannon University based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 4,665 students)

Gannon University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Gannon University or Penn State?

  • Gannon University is 93.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($35,620.00 vs. $18,368.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 0.9% higher at Penn State than Gannon University ($35,946.00 vs. $35,620.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Gannon University than Penn State ($22,200 vs. $26,747)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 20.9% lower than costs at Gannon University ($12,744 vs. $15,410)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gannon University than Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 44%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gannon University students is 160% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($26,172 vs. $10,066)

Gannon University vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Gannon University or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Gannon University .

  • The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 167 points higher than at Gannon University (1035)
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Gannon University (23)
  • Gannon University has a higher acceptance rate (80.8%) than Penn State (55.2%)

Gannon University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Gannon University or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and Gannon University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Gannon University (87% vs. 66%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $2,400 more per year than Gannon University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $52,900)
  • Penn State Main Campus students graduate with a $182 lower median federal student loan debt than Gannon University graduates. ($26,818 vs. $27,000)
  • Penn State graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans than Gannon University graduates. ($277 vs. $279)
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gannon University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/