Barnard vs. Penn State

Barnard College and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Barnard College
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Barnard (8.8% admitted vs 60.6%). Typical SAT 1520 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: Barnard. Average net price is $26,407 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: Barnard 92% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Barnard $66,900 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Barnard College Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Barnard more selective
Barnard8.8%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Barnard higher
Barnard1470-1560
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Barnard $1,482 less
Barnard$26,407
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $49,244 less
Barnard$69,888
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $28,098 less
Barnard$69,888
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Barnard +5 pts
Barnard92%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Barnard +$11,600
Barnard$66,900
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Barnard 11,836
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Barnard 1,046
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Barnard 8.8%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Barnard 68.6%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Barnard 1520
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Barnard 33
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Barnard 3.85
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Barnard A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Barnard Elite
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Barnard Extreme
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Barnard 1470-1560
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Barnard 32-34
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Barnard Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Barnard Jan 4, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Barnard $69,888
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Barnard $21,714
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Barnard $26,407
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Barnard $63,131
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Barnard 33%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Barnard 92%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Barnard $66,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Barnard 89%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Barnard $17,847
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Barnard $184
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Barnard 10:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Barnard
    • Social Sciences (27%)
    • English and Literature (12%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Barnard New York, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Barnard Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Barnard 3,487
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Barnard Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Barnard #35
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Barnard College in New York, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Barnard based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,487 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Barnard College is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Barnard College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Barnard College 10:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 33.3% lower than at Barnard College ($14,474 vs. $21,714).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.2% higher at Barnard than at Penn State Main Campus (about $28,098 more per year; $69,888 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Penn State Main Campus than at Barnard College (37% vs. 33%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Barnard College students is 456.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($63,131 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Barnard than at Penn State (33 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Barnard and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Barnard Jan 4, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 68.6% at Barnard vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Barnard College graduates have a $8,971 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($17,847 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Barnard graduates have an estimated $93 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($184 vs. $277).
  • More Barnard graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (89% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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