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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers Georgetown UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Northwestern Vanderbilt| Penn State Main Campus | University of Notre Dame | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
| Location | University Park, PA | Notre Dame, IN | ||
| Setting | Small City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 50,399 | 13,174 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #171 | #31 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | nd.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $19,672 | $62,186 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $39,626 | $62,186 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,030 | $17,378 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $27,450 | $29,083 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $11,577 | $51,128 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 36% | 59% |
Admission |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 85,956 | 28,353 | ||
| Admitted | 46,605 | 3,510 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 54.2% | 12.4% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.4% | 59.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.91 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Elite | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Very High | ||
| ACT Range | 27/32 | 33/35 | ||
| SAT Range | 1220/1400 | 1440/1540 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 9:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 96% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $89,800 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $21,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $222 |
Diversity |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 8% | 18% | ||
| % Women | 8% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 11% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 6% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 83% | ||
Campus |
Penn State | Notre Dame | ||
| 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 Notre Dame based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 13,174 students)
Penn State vs. Notre Dame Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State or Notre Dame ?
- University of Notre Dame is 216.1% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($62,186.00 vs. $19,672.00)
- Out of state tuition is 56.9% higher at Notre Dame than Penn State Main Campus ($62,186.00 vs. $39,626.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than Notre Dame ($27,450 vs. $29,083)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 33.4% lower than costs at University of Notre Dame ($13,030 vs. $17,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of Notre Dame than Penn State Main Campus (59% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Notre Dame students is 341.6% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($51,128 vs. $11,577)
Penn State vs. Notre Dame Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or Notre Dame ? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Notre Dame or Penn State .
- The average SAT score at University of Notre Dame (1455) is 253 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming Notre Dame students have a 6 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (54.2%) than Notre Dame (12.4%)
Penn State vs. Notre Dame Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State or Notre Dame ? 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 Notre Dame and Penn State.
- The graduation rate at Notre Dame is higher than Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 87%)
- Graduates from University of Notre Dame earn on average $34,500 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($89,800 vs. $55,300)
- University of Notre Dame students graduate with a $5,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($21,500 vs. $26,818)
- Notre Dame graduates are paying $55 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($222 vs. $277)
- More Notre Dame graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/