George Washington vs. Penn State

Deciding between George Washington 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.

George Washington University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • George Washington Washington, DC
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • George Washington Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • George Washington 25,374
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • George Washington Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • George Washington #82
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • George Washington -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • George Washington Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • George Washington
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • George Washington $16,920
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • George Washington $46,485
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • George Washington $37,500
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • George Washington 78%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • George Washington 27,016
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • George Washington 12,723
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • George Washington 47.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • George Washington 19.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • George Washington 1430
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • George Washington 32
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • George Washington 3.81
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • George Washington A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • George Washington Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • George Washington Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • George Washington 31/34
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • George Washington 1350/1500
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • George Washington Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • George Washington Jan 5, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • George Washington 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • George Washington
    • Social Sciences (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (4%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • George Washington 81%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • George Washington $80,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • George Washington 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • George Washington $24,962
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • George Washington $258
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • George Washington 38%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • George Washington 62%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • George Washington High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • George Washington No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • George Washington 56%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • George Washington 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • George Washington 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • George Washington 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • George Washington 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • George Washington 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • George Washington 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • George Washington 10%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • George Washington 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • George Washington 2%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • George Washington 89%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare George Washington University in Washington, DC 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 George Washington based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 25,374 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Washington University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • George Washington 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: George Washington University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

George Washington vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington 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 George Washington ($27,889 vs. $46,485).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 14.5% lower than at George Washington University ($14,474 vs. $16,920).
  • George Washington University is 228% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $47,066 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 62% higher at George Washington than at Penn State Main Campus (about $25,920 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Washington University than at Penn State Main Campus (78% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by George Washington University students is 230.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($37,500 vs. $11,336).

George Washington vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, George Washington 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 George Washington.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at George Washington University (1430) is 100 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming George Washington students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (32 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 1350/1500; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 31/34; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: George Washington - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: George Washington Jan 5, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than George Washington (47.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at George Washington vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

George Washington vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for George Washington 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 George Washington University's (81%).
  • Graduates from George Washington University earn a median of about $25,200 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,500 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Washington University graduates have a $1,856 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,962 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, George Washington graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($258 vs. $277).
  • More George Washington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.