JCU vs. Penn State

John Carroll University and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

John Carroll University
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 80.9%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1260.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State. Average net price is $27,889 vs $30,030 at JCU.
  • Graduation: JCU 71% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: JCU $57,600 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

John Carroll University Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
JCU80.9%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
JCU1180-1330
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Penn State $2,141 less
JCU$30,030
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $29,856 less
JCU$50,500
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $8,710 less
JCU$50,500
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +16 pts
JCU71%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
JCU +$2,300
JCU$57,600
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • JCU 4,623
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • JCU 3,740
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • JCU 80.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • JCU 15.9%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JCU 1260
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • JCU 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • JCU 3.66
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • JCU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • JCU Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • JCU
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • JCU 1180-1330
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • JCU 25-32
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • JCU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • JCU
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • JCU $50,500
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • JCU $50,500
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • JCU $14,520
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • JCU $30,030
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • JCU $35,785
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • JCU 100%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • JCU 71%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • JCU $57,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • JCU 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • JCU $26,939
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • JCU $278
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • JCU 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • JCU
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • JCU University Heights, OH
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • JCU Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • JCU 2,864
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • JCU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • JCU #222
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare John Carroll University in University Heights, OH with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than JCU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,864 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • John Carroll University is located in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • John Carroll 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: John Carroll University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0.3% lower than at John Carroll University ($14,474 vs. $14,520).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.8% higher at JCU than at Penn State Main Campus (about $8,710 more per year; $50,500 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Carroll University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 215.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($35,785 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at Penn State than at JCU (29 vs. 28, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both JCU and Penn State.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at JCU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $121 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($26,818 vs. $26,939).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($277 vs. $278).
  • More JCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (74% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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