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Virginia Tech UD Auburn Rutgers Alabama UConn Pitt UMass Kentucky UB NC State Michigan State| Penn State Main Campus | The University of Tennessee | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
| Location | University Park, PA | Knoxville, TN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 50,028 | 33,805 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #167 | #232 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | tennessee.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,368 | $11,332 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,946 | $29,522 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,744 | $12,150 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,747 | $21,880 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,066 | $10,593 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 44% | 88% |
Admission |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 85,784 | 36,290 | ||
| Admitted | 47,360 | 24,826 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.2% | 68.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.5% | 27.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.66 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 25/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1390 | 1170/1330 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Required to be considered for admission | ||
| Application Deadline |
Academics |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 63% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $56,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $20,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $206 |
Diversity |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 45% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 55% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 11% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 3% |
Students |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 54% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 45% | ||
Campus |
Penn State | Tennessee | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Tennessee based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 33,805 students)
Penn State vs. Tennessee Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Tennessee?
- Penn State Main Campus is 62.1% more expensive to attend than Tennessee for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $11,332.00)
- Out of state tuition is 21.8% higher at Penn State than The University of Tennessee ($35,946.00 vs. $29,522.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Tennessee than Penn State ($21,880 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The University of Tennessee are 4.9% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($12,150 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Tennessee than Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Tennessee students is 5.2% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($10,593 vs. $10,066)
Penn State vs. Tennessee Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Tennessee? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Tennessee or Penn State .
- The average SAT score at The University of Tennessee (1214) is 12 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming Penn State students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Tennessee (27)
- Tennessee has a higher acceptance rate (68.4%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Penn State vs. Tennessee Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State or Tennessee? 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 Tennessee and Penn State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than The University of Tennessee (87% vs. 63%)
- Graduates from The University of Tennessee earn on average $1,000 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($56,300 vs. $55,300)
- The University of Tennessee students graduate with a $6,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($20,000 vs. $26,818)
- Tennessee graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($206 vs. $277)
- More Tennessee graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/