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Williams Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB Tufts NC State Michigan State Swarthmore| Amherst College | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
| Location | Amherst, MA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Town Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,898 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #16 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | amherst.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $63,500 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $63,500 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,750 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,367 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $58,693 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 58% | 44% |
Admission |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 14,864 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 1,079 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 7.3% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 43.3% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.91 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Elite | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Extreme | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/35 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1420/1550 | 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 2, 2024 |
Academics |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 7:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 96% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $82,000 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 83% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $12,975 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $134 | $277 |
Diversity |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 48% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 52% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 42% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 13% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 10% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 13% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 74% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Amherst | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Amherst based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 1,898 students)
Amherst vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Amherst or Penn State?
- Amherst College is 245.7% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($63,500.00 vs. $18,368.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.7% higher at Amherst than Penn State Main Campus ($63,500.00 vs. $35,946.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Amherst College than Penn State ($21,367 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 31.4% lower than costs at Amherst College ($12,744 vs. $16,750)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Amherst College than Penn State Main Campus (58% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Amherst College students is 483.1% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($58,693 vs. $10,066)
Amherst vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Amherst or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Amherst .
- The average SAT score at Amherst College (1451) is 249 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming Amherst students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than Amherst (7.3%)
Amherst vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Amherst 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 Amherst.
- The graduation rate at Amherst is higher than Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 87%)
- Graduates from Amherst College earn on average $26,700 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($82,000 vs. $55,300)
- Amherst College students graduate with a $13,843 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($12,975 vs. $26,818)
- Amherst graduates are paying $143 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($134 vs. $277)
- More Amherst graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (83% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/