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George Washington Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Clemson Syracuse| American University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Penn State | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,885 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #93 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $53,070 | $18,368 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $53,070 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,706 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $41,369 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,138 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 66% | 44% |
Admission |
AU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 19,510 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 7,926 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 40.6% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22.2% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 29/32 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1290/1430 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2024 |
Academics |
AU | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
AU | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $277 |
Diversity |
AU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
AU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 40% | ||
Campus |
AU | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than AU based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 13,885 students)
AU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Penn State?
- American University is 188.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($53,070.00 vs. $18,368.00)
- Out of state tuition is 47.6% higher at AU than Penn State Main Campus ($53,070.00 vs. $35,946.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than AU ($26,747 vs. $41,369)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 23.2% lower than costs at American University ($12,744 vs. $15,706)
- More students receive financial grant aid at American University than Penn State Main Campus (66% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 169.6% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($27,138 vs. $10,066)
AU vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 50 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming AU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than AU (40.6%)
AU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU 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 AU.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than American University (87% vs. 77%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $9,500 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $55,300)
- American University students graduate with a $2,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($24,250 vs. $26,818)
- AU graduates are paying $27 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($250 vs. $277)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/