IU vs. Penn State

Deciding between Indiana University Bloomington 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.

Indiana University Bloomington
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IU Bloomington, IN
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • IU Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • IU 48,424
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • IU Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IU #207
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IU -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • IU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IU $12,144
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IU $41,891
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • IU $13,984
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • IU $17,270
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IU $10,487
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IU 73%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IU 67,658
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • IU 52,918
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IU 78.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • IU 18.2%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IU 1290
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • IU 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • IU 3.74
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • IU Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • IU
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • IU 27/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • IU 1170/1400
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IU
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IU 18:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IU
    • Business (21%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
    • Education (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IU 72%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IU $56,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IU 72%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IU $22,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IU $232
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IU 50%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • IU 50%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IU Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • IU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • IU 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • IU 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • IU 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • IU 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • IU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IU 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • IU 11%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IU 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IU 55%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IU 41%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Bloomington in Bloomington, IN 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 IU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 48,424 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Bloomington is located in Bloomington, IN (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Indiana University Bloomington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Bloomington 18:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

IU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington than Penn State ($17,270 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Bloomington are 3.4% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,984 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 70% more expensive for in-state tuition than IU (about $8,500 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $12,144.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.2% higher at IU than at Penn State Main Campus (about $101 more per year; $41,891.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Indiana University Bloomington than at Penn State Main Campus (73% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 8.1% larger than aid received by Indiana University Bloomington students ($11,336 vs. $10,487).

IU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU 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 IU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 40 points higher than at IU (1290).
  • Incoming IU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 1170/1400; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Bloomington 27/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • IU has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.2% at IU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

IU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IU 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 Indiana University Bloomington's (72%).
  • Graduates from Indiana University Bloomington earn a median of about $900 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Indiana University Bloomington graduates have a $4,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($22,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, IU graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($232 vs. $277).
  • More IU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.