Penn State vs. Roger Williams University

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

Penn State Main Campus
Roger Williams University

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 87.7%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1230.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State. Average net price is $27,889 vs $38,779 at Roger Williams University.
  • Graduation: Penn State 87% vs Roger Williams University 59%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Penn State $55,300 vs Roger Williams University $53,000 (median).
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Key differences

Penn State Main Campus Roger Williams University
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
Penn State60.6%
Roger Williams University87.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
Penn State1240-1420
Roger Williams University1140-1310
Average net price
Penn State $10,890 less
Penn State$27,889
Roger Williams University$38,779
In-state tuition
Penn State $23,774 less
Penn State$20,644
Roger Williams University$44,418
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $2,628 less
Penn State$41,790
Roger Williams University$44,418
Graduation rate
Penn State +28 pts
Penn State87%
Roger Williams University59%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn State +$2,300
Penn State$55,300
Roger Williams University$53,000

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Roger Williams University 8,029
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Roger Williams University 7,042
  • Acceptance rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Roger Williams University 87.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Roger Williams University 13%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Roger Williams University 1230
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Roger Williams University 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Roger Williams University 3.43
  • Typical high school grades
  • Penn State -
  • Roger Williams University B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Roger Williams University Challenging
  • Applicant competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Roger Williams University
  • SAT range
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • Roger Williams University 1140-1310
  • ACT range
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Roger Williams University 24-29
  • Submit test scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Roger Williams University Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Penn State
  • Roger Williams University Feb 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Roger Williams University $44,418
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Roger Williams University $44,418
  • Room & board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Roger Williams University $17,112
  • Average net price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Roger Williams University $38,779
  • Average grant aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Roger Williams University $23,192
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Roger Williams University 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Roger Williams University 59%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Roger Williams University $53,000
  • Making student loan payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Roger Williams University 82%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Roger Williams University $27,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Roger Williams University $279
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Roger Williams University 10:1
  • Popular majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Roger Williams University
    • Business (23%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Architecture (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Roger Williams University Bristol, RI
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Roger Williams University Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Roger Williams University 4,350
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Roger Williams University Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Roger Williams University #312

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA with Roger Williams University in Bristol, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Roger Williams University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 4,350 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); Roger Williams University is in Bristol, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Roger Williams University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; Roger Williams University 10:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 15.4% lower than at Roger Williams University ($14,474 vs. $17,112).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 6.3% higher at Roger Williams University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $2,628 more per year; $44,418 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Roger Williams University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Roger Williams University students is 104.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($23,192 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Penn State than at Roger Williams University (29 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Penn State and Roger Williams University.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Roger Williams University Feb 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 13% at Roger Williams University.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Roger Williams University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Roger Williams University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Roger Williams University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (82% 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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