Catholic University of America vs. Penn State Brandywine

Should I go to Catholic University of America or Penn State Brandywine? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catholic University of America or Penn State Brandywine 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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Catholic University of America vs. Penn State Brandywine comparison
Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine College 3 College 4
Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
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Overview

Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
Location Washington, DC Media, PA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 4,968 1,196
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #729
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website cua.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
Tuition (In State) $53,040 $14,624
Tuition (Out of State) $53,040 $24,318
Room & Board $16,670 $13,930
Avg Net Price $36,031 $21,600
Avg Grant Aid $34,449 $9,638
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 70%

Admission

Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,801 2,440
Admitted 4,965 2,347
Acceptance Rate 85.6% 96.2%
Enrolled % 15.4% 17%
Avg High School GPA 3.52 -
Typical High School Grades B+ -
Admissions Standards Unavailable Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 23/31
SAT Range 1070/1285
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2024

Academics

Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Architecture (11%)
  • Business (11%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Engineering (7%)
  • Business (28%)
  • Work and Family Studies (28%)
  • Communication (23%)
  • Ethnic Studies (6%)
  • Education (5%)

Outcomes

Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
Graduation Rate 68% 37%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,600 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 77% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,106 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $269 $277

Diversity

Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
% Men 46% 61%
% Women 54% 39%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 64% 63%
% Black 5% 15%
% Hispanic 13% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 2%
% International 5% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Catholic University of America Penn State Brandywine
% In-State 5% 74%
% Out-of-State 87% 24%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Catholic University of America is larger than than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (4,968 students vs. 1,196 students)

Catholic University of America vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catholic University of America or Penn State Brandywine?

  • Catholic University of America is 262.7% more expensive to attend than Penn State Brandywine for in-state tuition ($53,040.00 vs. $14,624.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 118.1% higher at Catholic University of America than Penn State Brandywine ($53,040.00 vs. $24,318.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Brandywine than Catholic University of America ($21,600 vs. $36,031)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 19.7% lower than costs at Catholic University of America ($13,930 vs. $16,670)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Catholic University of America than Penn State Brandywine (98% vs. 70%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Catholic University of America students is 257.4% larger than aid received Penn State Brandywine ($34,449 vs. $9,638)

Catholic University of America vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (96.2%) than Catholic University of America (85.6%)

Catholic University of America vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catholic University of America or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine and Catholic University of America.

  • The graduation rate at Catholic University of America is higher than Penn State Brandywine (68% vs. 37%)
  • Graduates from Catholic University of America earn on average $3,300 more per year than Penn State Brandywine graduates after ten years. ($58,600 vs. $55,300)
  • Catholic University of America students graduate with a $712 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Brandywine graduates. ($26,106 vs. $26,818)
  • Catholic University of America graduates are paying $8 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Brandywine graduates. ($269 vs. $277)
  • More Catholic University of America graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Brandywine students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 69%)

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