Penn State vs. Utah

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

Penn State Main Campus
University of Utah

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 86%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1290.
  • Cheaper after aid: Utah. Average net price is $16,583 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: Penn State 87% vs Utah 55%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Penn State $55,300 vs Utah $61,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Penn State Main Campus University of Utah
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
Penn State60.6%
Utah86%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
Penn State1240-1420
Utah1190-1380
Average net price
Utah $11,306 less
Penn State$27,889
Utah$16,583
In-state tuition
Utah $11,024 less
Penn State$20,644
Utah$9,620
Out-of-state tuition
Utah $10,930 less
Penn State$41,790
Utah$30,860
Graduation rate
Penn State +32 pts
Penn State87%
Utah55%
Median earnings (10 years)
Utah +$6,000
Penn State$55,300
Utah$61,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Penn State and Utah with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Penn State Check my chances at Utah
  • Applied
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Utah 26,822
  • Admitted
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Utah 23,062
  • Acceptance rate
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Utah 86%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Utah 26%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Penn State 1330
  • Utah 1290
  • Typical ACT score
  • Penn State 29
  • Utah 25
  • Average high school GPA
  • Penn State -
  • Utah 3.64
  • Typical high school grades
  • Penn State -
  • Utah A-
  • Admissions standards
  • Penn State Very High
  • Utah Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Penn State Low
  • Utah
  • SAT range
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • Utah 1190-1380
  • ACT range
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Utah 22-29
  • Submit test scores
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Utah Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Penn State
  • Utah Apr 1, 2027
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Utah $9,620
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Utah $30,860
  • Room & board
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Utah $13,315
  • Average net price
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Utah $16,583
  • Average grant aid
  • Penn State $11,336
  • Utah $12,744
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Penn State 37%
  • Utah 73%
  • Graduation rate
  • Penn State 87%
  • Utah 55%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Utah $61,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Penn State 69%
  • Utah 72%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Utah $15,000
  • Median loan payment
  • Penn State $277
  • Utah $155
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Utah 19:1
  • Popular majors
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Utah
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Location
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Utah Salt Lake City, UT
  • Setting
  • Penn State Small City
  • Utah Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Utah 36,894
  • Type
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • Utah Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Penn State #185
  • Utah #258

Comparable Facts

Compare Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA with University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Utah based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 36,894 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Penn State Main Campus is located in University Park, PA (Small City setting); University of Utah is in Salt Lake City, UT (Midsize City setting).
  • Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Utah is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Penn State Main Campus 16:1; University of Utah 19:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Utah are 8% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,315 vs. $14,474).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.4% higher at Penn State than at University of Utah (about $10,930 more per year; $41,790 vs. $30,860).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Utah than at Penn State Main Campus (73% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Utah students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($12,744 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Penn State than at Utah (29 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Penn State and Utah.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Utah Apr 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.1% at Penn State vs. 26% at Utah.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Utah graduates have a $11,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Utah graduates have an estimated $122 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($155 vs. $277).
  • More Utah graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (72% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Penn State Main Campus
University of Utah
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges