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IU Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass Illinois UB Rose-Hulman NC State Michigan State| Penn State Main Campus | Purdue University Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
| Location | University Park, PA | West Lafayette, IN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 50,028 | 51,528 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #167 | #101 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | purdue.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,368 | $9,718 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,946 | $28,520 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,744 | $10,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,747 | $12,576 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,066 | $8,950 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 44% | 48% |
Admission |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 85,784 | 68,582 | ||
| Admitted | 47,360 | 36,146 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.2% | 52.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.5% | 26.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.67 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Exceptional | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 27/34 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1390 | 1200/1470 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 14:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $61,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 78% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $222 |
Diversity |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 58% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 42% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 65% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 11% | 17% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 46% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 44% | ||
Campus |
Penn State | Purdue | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Purdue University Main Campus is larger than than Penn State based on total student enrollment (51,528 students vs. 50,028 students)
Penn State vs. Purdue Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Purdue?
- Penn State Main Campus is 89% more expensive to attend than Purdue for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $9,718.00)
- Out of state tuition is 26% higher at Penn State than Purdue University Main Campus ($35,946.00 vs. $28,520.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Purdue University Main Campus than Penn State ($12,576 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Purdue University Main Campus are 27.1% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($10,030 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Purdue University Main Campus than Penn State Main Campus (48% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 12.5% larger than aid received Purdue University Main Campus ($10,066 vs. $8,950)
Penn State vs. Purdue Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Purdue? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Purdue or Penn State .
- The average SAT score at Purdue University Main Campus (1231) is 29 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming Purdue students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than Purdue (52.7%)
Penn State vs. Purdue Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State or Purdue? 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 Purdue and Penn State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Purdue University Main Campus (87% vs. 68%)
- Graduates from Purdue University Main Campus earn on average $5,900 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($61,200 vs. $55,300)
- Purdue University Main Campus students graduate with a $5,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,818)
- Purdue graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($222 vs. $277)
- More Purdue graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/