MVNU vs. Penn State

Deciding between Mount Vernon Nazarene 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.

Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • MVNU Mount Vernon, OH
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • MVNU Rural Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • MVNU 1,671
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • MVNU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • MVNU #556
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • MVNU Church of the Nazarene
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • MVNU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • MVNU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • MVNU $37,158
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • MVNU $37,158
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • MVNU $10,394
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • MVNU $22,961
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • MVNU $26,886
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • MVNU 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • MVNU 1,230
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • MVNU 1,035
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • MVNU 84.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • MVNU 29.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • MVNU 1180
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • MVNU 21
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • MVNU 3.55
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • MVNU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • MVNU Average
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • MVNU
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • MVNU 18/25
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • MVNU 1046/1315
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • MVNU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • MVNU
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • MVNU 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • MVNU
    • Business (44%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Human Services (6%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (4%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • MVNU 57%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • MVNU $46,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • MVNU 65%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • MVNU $26,536
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • MVNU $274
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • MVNU 44%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • MVNU 56%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • MVNU Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • MVNU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • MVNU 85%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • MVNU 0%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • MVNU 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • MVNU 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • MVNU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • MVNU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • MVNU 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • MVNU 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • MVNU 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • MVNU 86%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • MVNU 10%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Mount Vernon, OH 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 MVNU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,671 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is located in Mount Vernon, OH (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Mount Vernon Nazarene 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: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

MVNU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MVNU 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University than Penn State ($22,961 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mount Vernon Nazarene University are 28.2% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($10,394 vs. $14,474).
  • Mount Vernon Nazarene University is 80% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $16,514 more per year; $37,158.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at Penn State than at Mount Vernon Nazarene University (about $4,632 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $37,158.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Mount Vernon Nazarene University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Mount Vernon Nazarene University students is 137.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($26,886 vs. $11,336).

MVNU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MVNU 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 MVNU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 150 points higher than at MVNU (1180).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 8 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 21 at MVNU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 1046/1315; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Mount Vernon Nazarene University 18/25; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MVNU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • MVNU has a higher acceptance rate (84.1%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.3% at MVNU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

MVNU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MVNU 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 Mount Vernon Nazarene University's (57%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $9,200 more per year than MVNU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Mount Vernon Nazarene University graduates have a $282 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,536 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, MVNU graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($274 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former MVNU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)

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.