Drew University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Drew University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Drew University
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Drew University Madison, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Drew University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Drew University 2,232
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Drew University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Drew University #356
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Drew University United Methodist
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Drew University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Drew University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Drew University $47,100
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Drew University $47,100
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Drew University $17,640
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Drew University $28,425
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Drew University $36,807
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Drew University 97%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Drew University 5,024
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Drew University 3,408
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Drew University 67.8%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Drew University 10.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Drew University 1220
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Drew University 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Drew University 3.1
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Drew University B
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Drew University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Drew University Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Drew University 24/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Drew University 1103/1338
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Drew University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Drew University Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Drew University 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Drew University
    • Social Sciences (30%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (15%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Drew University 68%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Drew University $55,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Drew University 70%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Drew University $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Drew University $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Drew University 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Drew University 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Drew University High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Drew University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Drew University 56%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Drew University 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Drew University 10%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Drew University 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Drew University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Drew University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Drew University 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Drew University 5%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Drew University 9%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Drew University 70%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Drew University 24%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Drew University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Drew University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Drew University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Drew University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Drew University Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Drew University in Madison, NJ with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Drew University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,232 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Drew University is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Drew 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: Drew University 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Drew University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Drew University or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Drew University ($27,889 vs. $28,425).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 17.9% lower than at Drew University ($14,474 vs. $17,640).
  • Drew University is 128.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $26,456 more per year; $47,100.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.7% higher at Drew University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $5,310 more per year; $47,100.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Drew University than at Penn State Main Campus (97% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Drew University students is 224.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($36,807 vs. $11,336).

Drew University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Drew University or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Drew University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 110 points higher than at Drew University (1220).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Drew University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drew University 1103/1338; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Drew University 24/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Drew University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Drew University Feb 1, 2027.
  • Drew University has a higher acceptance rate (67.8%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.7% at Drew University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Drew University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Drew University and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Drew University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Drew University earn a median of about $200 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Drew University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Drew University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Drew University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 69%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.