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CU Boulder Virginia Tech UD CU Denver Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State MSU| Colorado State University Fort Collins | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
| Location | Fort Collins, CO | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 33,403 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #359 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | colostate.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $10,218 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,078 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,728 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,926 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,727 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 74% | 44% |
Admission |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 33,122 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 30,066 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.8% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.5% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.68 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/29 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1080/1290 | 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 | Jul 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 64% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $51,800 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $21,004 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $217 | $277 |
Diversity |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 45% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 55% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 59% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Colorado State | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Colorado State based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 33,403 students)
Colorado State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Colorado State or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 79.8% more expensive to attend than Colorado State for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $10,218.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.5% higher at Penn State than Colorado State University Fort Collins ($35,946.00 vs. $30,078.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colorado State University Fort Collins than Penn State ($16,926 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 7.7% lower than costs at Colorado State University Fort Collins ($12,744 vs. $13,728)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Colorado State University Fort Collins than Penn State Main Campus (74% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Colorado State University Fort Collins students is 6.6% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($10,727 vs. $10,066)
Colorado State vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Colorado State or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Colorado State .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 57 points higher than at Colorado State (1145)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Colorado State (25)
- Colorado State has a higher acceptance rate (90.8%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Colorado State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Colorado State 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 Colorado State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Colorado State University Fort Collins (87% vs. 64%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $3,500 more per year than Colorado State graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $51,800)
- Colorado State University Fort Collins students graduate with a $5,814 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,004 vs. $26,818)
- Colorado State graduates are paying $60 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($217 vs. $277)
- More Colorado State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/