NYU vs. Penn State

Deciding between New York 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.

New York University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • NYU Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • NYU 56,832
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • NYU #43
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • NYU -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • NYU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • NYU $62,796
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • NYU $23,530
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • NYU $30,325
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • NYU $53,901
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • NYU 37%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • NYU 110,807
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • NYU 10,232
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • NYU 1520
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • NYU 34
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • NYU 3.79
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • NYU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • NYU Elite
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • NYU Extreme
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • NYU 34/35
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • NYU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • NYU
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • NYU 8:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • NYU 86%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • NYU $76,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • NYU 77%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • NYU $23,250
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • NYU $240
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • NYU 42%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • NYU 58%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • NYU Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • NYU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • NYU 34%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • NYU 20%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • NYU 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • NYU 12%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • NYU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • NYU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • NYU 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • NYU 17%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • NYU 8%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • NYU 26%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • NYU 49%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare New York University in New York, NY with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Penn State based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 50,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • New York University is located in New York, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • New York 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: New York University 8:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

NYU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NYU 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 NYU ($27,889 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 38.5% lower than at New York University ($14,474 vs. $23,530).
  • New York University is 204.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $42,152 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 50.3% higher at NYU than at Penn State Main Campus (about $21,006 more per year; $62,796.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at New York University as at Penn State Main Campus (37% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 375.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($53,901 vs. $11,336).

NYU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NYU 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 NYU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 190 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 1480/1560; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: New York University 34/35; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: NYU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.4% at NYU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

NYU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NYU 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 New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $20,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $3,568 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,250 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $37 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($240 vs. $277).
  • More NYU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (77% 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.