Quinnipiac vs. Penn State

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

Quinnipiac University
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 72.2%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1240.
  • Cheaper after aid: Penn State. Average net price is $27,889 vs $40,632 at Quinnipiac.
  • Graduation: Quinnipiac 77% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Quinnipiac $65,500 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Quinnipiac University Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
Quinnipiac72.2%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
Quinnipiac1150-1320
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Penn State $12,743 less
Quinnipiac$40,632
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $34,836 less
Quinnipiac$55,480
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $13,690 less
Quinnipiac$55,480
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +10 pts
Quinnipiac77%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Quinnipiac +$10,200
Quinnipiac$65,500
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

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

Check my chances at Quinnipiac Check my chances at Penn State
  • Applied
  • Quinnipiac 23,949
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Quinnipiac 17,280
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Quinnipiac 72.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Quinnipiac 11.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Quinnipiac 1240
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Quinnipiac 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Quinnipiac 3.39
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Quinnipiac B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Quinnipiac Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Quinnipiac Low
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Quinnipiac 1150-1320
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Quinnipiac 25-30
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Quinnipiac Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Quinnipiac Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Quinnipiac $55,480
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Quinnipiac $55,480
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Quinnipiac $17,260
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Quinnipiac $40,632
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Quinnipiac $31,568
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Quinnipiac 100%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Quinnipiac 77%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Quinnipiac $65,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Quinnipiac 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Quinnipiac $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Quinnipiac $268
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Quinnipiac 12:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Quinnipiac
    • Health Professions (26%)
    • Business (25%)
    • Communication (19%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
    • Psychology (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Quinnipiac Hamden, CT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Quinnipiac Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Quinnipiac 9,424
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Quinnipiac Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Quinnipiac #179
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Quinnipiac based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 9,424 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Quinnipiac University is located in Hamden, CT (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Quinnipiac University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Quinnipiac University 12:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 16.1% lower than at Quinnipiac University ($14,474 vs. $17,260).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.8% higher at Quinnipiac than at Penn State Main Campus (about $13,690 more per year; $55,480 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Quinnipiac University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Quinnipiac University students is 178.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($31,568 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Penn State than at Quinnipiac (29 vs. 27, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Quinnipiac and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Quinnipiac Feb 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.1% at Quinnipiac vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Quinnipiac University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Quinnipiac graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Quinnipiac graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (82% 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.

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

Frequently compared to these colleges