Duquesne University vs. Rutgers vs. Penn State vs. Pitt

Should I go to Duquesne University or Rutgers University New Brunswick? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Duquesne University or Rutgers 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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Duquesne University vs. Rutgers University New Brunswick vs. Penn State Main Campus vs. University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus comparison
Duquesne University Rutgers University New Brunswick Penn State Main Campus University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Duquesne University Rutgers University New Brunswick Penn State Main Campus University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
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Overview

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
Location Pittsburgh, PA New Brunswick, NJ University Park, PA Pittsburgh, PA
Setting Large City Small City Small City Large City
Enrollment 8,137 50,617 50,399 34,525
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #191 #113 #171 #131
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit Non-profit
Website duq.edu rutgers.edu psu.edu pitt.edu
Team Colors                                        

Costs

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
Tuition (In State) $47,146 $13,674 $19,672 $20,154
Tuition (Out of State) $47,146 $32,436 $39,626 $38,520
Room & Board $15,620 $14,715 $13,030 $13,420
Avg Net Price $35,125 $19,052 $27,450 $24,338
Avg Grant Aid $27,980 $16,249 $11,577 $10,551
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 52% 36% 82%

Admission

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
Applied 14,112 43,347 85,956 58,416
Admitted 11,128 28,326 46,605 29,034
Acceptance Rate 78.9% 65.3% 54.2% 33.8%
Enrolled % 13.3% 27.1% 19.4% 9.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.8 3.3 - 3.79
Typical High School Grades A- B+ - A-
Admissions Standards Very High Exceptional Very High Exceptional
Applicant Competition Low Low Low
ACT Range 26/31 28/33 27/32 29/33
SAT Range 1160/1350 1270/1480 1220/1400 1270/1450
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Aug 15, 2026

Academics

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1 15:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (31%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Social Sciences (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Engineering (8%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Business (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Health Professions (5%)
  • English and Literature (5%)
  • Engineering (4%)

Outcomes

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
Graduation Rate 73% 77% 87% 79%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $65,100 $66,200 $55,300 $58,000
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 68% 69% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $22,215 $26,818 $26,909
Median Loan Payment $279 $229 $277 $278

Diversity

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
% Men 13% 10% 8% 11%
% Women 23% 18% 8% 16%
Racial Diversity Very Low Very High Medium Low
HBCU No No No No
% White 81% 42% 69% 74%
% Black 5% 7% 4% 5%
% Hispanic 3% 13% 6% 3%
% Native American 0% 0% 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0% 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3% 3% 3%
% International 4% 7% 11% 4%
% Unknown Race 1% 2% 2% 1%

Students

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
% In-State 70% 84% 51% 56%
% Out-of-State 27% 8% 40% 38%

Campus

 Duquesne University Rutgers Penn State Pitt
Campus Housing Yes Yes Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No Yes No
Meal Plan Yes Yes Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes Yes Yes No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes Yes No
Learn More Details Details Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than than Duquesne University based on total student enrollment (50,617 students vs. 8,137 students)

Duquesne University vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duquesne University or Rutgers?

  • Duquesne University is 244.8% more expensive to attend than Rutgers for in-state tuition ($47,146.00 vs. $13,674.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 45.4% higher at Duquesne University than Rutgers University New Brunswick ($47,146.00 vs. $32,436.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rutgers University New Brunswick than Duquesne University ($19,052 vs. $35,125)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 6.2% lower than costs at Duquesne University ($14,715 vs. $15,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Duquesne University than Rutgers University New Brunswick (100% vs. 52%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 72.2% larger than aid received Rutgers University New Brunswick ($27,980 vs. $16,249)

Duquesne University vs. Rutgers Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Rutgers University New Brunswick (1225) is 87 points higher than at Duquesne University (1138)
  • Accepted freshman Duquesne University students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.8) than students at Rutgers (3.3)
  • Duquesne University has a higher acceptance rate (78.9%) than Rutgers (65.3%)

Duquesne University vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Duquesne University or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers and Duquesne University.

  • The graduation rate at Rutgers is higher than Duquesne University (77% vs. 73%)
  • Graduates from Rutgers University New Brunswick earn on average $1,100 more per year than Duquesne University graduates after ten years. ($66,200 vs. $65,100)
  • Rutgers University New Brunswick students graduate with a $4,785 lower median federal student loan debt than Duquesne University graduates. ($22,215 vs. $27,000)
  • Rutgers graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Duquesne University graduates. ($229 vs. $279)
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 68%)

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