Colgate vs. Penn State

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

Colgate University
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Colgate (13.9% admitted vs 60.6%). Typical SAT 1490 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: about even. Average net price is $28,736 at Colgate vs $27,889 at Penn State. Colgate in-state tuition is about $49,662 more per year.
  • Graduation: Colgate 92% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Colgate $75,300 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Colgate University Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Colgate more selective
Colgate13.9%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Colgate higher
Colgate1430-1540
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
About even
Colgate$28,736
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $49,662 less
Colgate$70,306
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $28,516 less
Colgate$70,306
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Colgate +5 pts
Colgate92%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Colgate +$20,000
Colgate$75,300
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Colgate and Penn State with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Colgate Check my chances at Penn State
  • Applied
  • Colgate 20,682
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Colgate 2,871
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Colgate 13.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Colgate 28.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Colgate 1490
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Colgate 33
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Colgate 3.77
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Colgate A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Colgate Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Colgate Very High
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Colgate 1430-1540
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Colgate 33-34
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Colgate Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Colgate Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Colgate $70,306
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Colgate $17,610
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Colgate $28,736
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Colgate $58,334
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Colgate 43%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Colgate 92%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Colgate $75,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Colgate 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Colgate $16,125
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Colgate $166
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Colgate 9:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Colgate
    • Social Sciences (33%)
    • English and Literature (11%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Foreign Languages (7%)
    • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Colgate Hamilton, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Colgate Distant Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Colgate 3,211
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Colgate Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Colgate #30
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Colgate University in Hamilton, 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 Colgate based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 3,211 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Colgate University is located in Hamilton, NY (Distant Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Colgate University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Colgate University 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 17.8% lower than at Colgate University ($14,474 vs. $17,610).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 68.2% higher at Colgate than at Penn State Main Campus (about $28,516 more per year; $70,306 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Colgate University than at Penn State Main Campus (43% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 414.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($58,334 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Colgate than at Penn State (33 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Colgate and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Colgate Jan 15, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 28.7% at Colgate vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Colgate University graduates have a $10,693 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($16,125 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Colgate graduates have an estimated $111 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($166 vs. $277).
  • More Colgate graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (86% vs. 69%).

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

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Colgate University
Penn State Main Campus
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges