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Clemson Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass Georgia CofC UB NC State Auburn| Penn State Main Campus | University of South Carolina Columbia | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
| Location | University Park, PA | Columbia, SC | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 50,028 | 35,653 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #167 | #208 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | sc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,368 | $12,288 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,946 | $33,528 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,744 | $11,780 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,747 | $22,427 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,066 | $6,880 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 44% | 98% |
Admission |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 85,784 | 42,188 | ||
| Admitted | 47,360 | 27,022 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.2% | 64.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.5% | 24.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.69 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1390 | 1180/1380 | ||
| 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 | Dec 1, 2023 |
Academics |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 70% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $51,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $240 |
Diversity |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 42% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 58% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 11% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 52% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 47% | ||
Campus |
Penn State | UofSC | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | Yes | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than UofSC based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 35,653 students)
Penn State vs. UofSC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State or UofSC?
- Penn State Main Campus is 49.5% more expensive to attend than UofSC for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $12,288.00)
- Out of state tuition is 7.2% higher at Penn State than University of South Carolina Columbia ($35,946.00 vs. $33,528.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Columbia than Penn State ($22,427 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Columbia are 8.2% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($11,780 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Columbia than Penn State Main Campus (98% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 46.3% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Columbia ($10,066 vs. $6,880)
Penn State vs. UofSC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or UofSC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UofSC or Penn State .
- The average SAT score at University of South Carolina Columbia (1220) is 18 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming UofSC students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Penn State (27)
- UofSC has a higher acceptance rate (64.1%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Penn State vs. UofSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State or UofSC? 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 UofSC and Penn State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than University of South Carolina Columbia (87% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $3,600 more per year than UofSC graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $51,700)
- University of South Carolina Columbia students graduate with a $3,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,818)
- UofSC graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($240 vs. $277)
- More UofSC 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/