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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass Alabama UB NC State Michigan State Clemson Syracuse| Louisiana State University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
LSU | Penn State | ||
| Location | Baton Rouge, LA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 37,348 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #367 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | lsu.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
LSU | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $8,038 | $18,368 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $8,038 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,956 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $21,296 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,374 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 44% |
Admission |
LSU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 38,853 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 29,419 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 75.7% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 25.2% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.77 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/28 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1140/1320 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jul 15, 2024 |
Academics |
LSU | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 22:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
LSU | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 60% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $56,900 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 67% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $20,900 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $216 | $277 |
Diversity |
LSU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 44% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 56% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
LSU | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 65% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 34% | 40% | ||
Campus |
LSU | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than LSU based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 37,348 students)
LSU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, LSU or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 128.5% more expensive to attend than LSU for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- Out of state tuition is 347.2% higher at Penn State than Louisiana State University ($35,946.00 vs. $8,038.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Louisiana State University than Penn State ($21,296 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 9.5% lower than costs at Louisiana State University ($12,744 vs. $13,956)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Louisiana State University than Penn State Main Campus (98% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 22.9% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($12,374 vs. $10,066)
LSU vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, LSU or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or LSU .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 39 points higher than at LSU (1163)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at LSU (26)
- LSU has a higher acceptance rate (75.7%) than Penn State (55.2%)
LSU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, LSU or Penn State? 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 Penn State and LSU.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Louisiana State University (87% vs. 60%)
- Graduates from Louisiana State University earn on average $1,600 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($56,900 vs. $55,300)
- Louisiana State University students graduate with a $5,918 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($20,900 vs. $26,818)
- LSU graduates are paying $61 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($216 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/