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Virginia Tech UD JMU Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass Mason UB NC State Michigan State Clemson| Penn State Main Campus | Virginia Commonwealth University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Penn State | VCU | ||
| Location | University Park, PA | Richmond, VA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 50,028 | 28,082 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #167 | #442 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | psu.edu | vcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Penn State | VCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,368 | $12,458 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $35,946 | $33,726 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,744 | $12,279 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $26,747 | $21,294 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,066 | $12,583 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 44% | 83% |
Admission |
Penn State | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 85,784 | 18,242 | ||
| Admitted | 47,360 | 16,600 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 55.2% | 91% | ||
| Enrolled % | 19.5% | 25.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | 3.75 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Difficult | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 26/31 | 22/30 | ||
| SAT Range | 1210/1390 | 1030/1290 | ||
| 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 18, 2024 |
Academics |
Penn State | VCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 15:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Penn State | VCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 87% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $55,300 | $47,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 69% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $26,818 | $23,250 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $277 | $240 |
Diversity |
Penn State | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 53% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 47% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 69% | 50% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 18% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 6% | ||
| % International | 11% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Penn State | VCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 51% | 92% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 40% | 6% | ||
Campus |
Penn State | VCU | ||
| 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 VCU based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 28,082 students)
Penn State vs. VCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Penn State or VCU?
- Penn State Main Campus is 47.4% more expensive to attend than VCU for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $12,458.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.6% higher at Penn State than Virginia Commonwealth University ($35,946.00 vs. $33,726.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Virginia Commonwealth University than Penn State ($21,294 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Virginia Commonwealth University are 3.8% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($12,279 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Virginia Commonwealth University than Penn State Main Campus (83% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Virginia Commonwealth University students is 25% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($12,583 vs. $10,066)
Penn State vs. VCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Penn State or VCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between VCU or Penn State .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 105 points higher than at VCU (1097)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at VCU (24)
- VCU has a higher acceptance rate (91%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Penn State vs. VCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Penn State or VCU? 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 VCU and Penn State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Virginia Commonwealth University (87% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $7,800 more per year than VCU graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $47,500)
- Virginia Commonwealth University students graduate with a $3,568 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($23,250 vs. $26,818)
- VCU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($240 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former VCU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/