Rowan University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Rowan University and Penn State Main Campus? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Rowan University
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Rowan University Glassboro, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Rowan University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Rowan University 21,026
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Rowan University Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Rowan University #270
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Rowan University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Rowan University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Rowan University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Rowan University $16,574
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Rowan University $26,932
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Rowan University $16,928
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Rowan University $23,761
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Rowan University $12,419
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Rowan University 93%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Rowan University 19,593
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Rowan University 15,216
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Rowan University 77.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Rowan University 23%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Rowan University 1210
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Rowan University 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Rowan University 3.44
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Rowan University B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Rowan University Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Rowan University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Rowan University 23/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Rowan University 1110/1310
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Rowan University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Rowan University
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Rowan University 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Rowan University
    • Education (17%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Rowan University 68%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Rowan University $53,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Rowan University 67%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Rowan University $20,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Rowan University $206
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Rowan University 49%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Rowan University 51%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Rowan University Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Rowan University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Rowan University 69%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Rowan University 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Rowan University 10%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Rowan University 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Rowan University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Rowan University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Rowan University 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Rowan University 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Rowan University 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Rowan University 89%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Rowan University 7%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Rowan University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Rowan University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Meal Plan
  • Rowan University Yes
  • Penn State Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Rowan University No
  • Penn State Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Rowan University Yes
  • Penn State Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Rowan University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 21,026 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Rowan University is located in Glassboro, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Rowan University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Rowan University 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Rowan University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Rowan University or Penn State? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Rowan University than Penn State ($23,761 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 14.5% lower than at Rowan University ($14,474 vs. $16,928).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 24.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rowan University (about $4,070 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $16,574.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 55.2% higher at Penn State than at Rowan University (about $14,858 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $26,932.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Rowan University than at Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Rowan University students is 9.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($12,419 vs. $11,336).

Rowan University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Rowan University or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and Rowan University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 120 points higher than at Rowan University (1210).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at Rowan University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rowan University 1110/1310; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Rowan University 23/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Rowan University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Rowan University has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23% at Rowan University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Rowan University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Rowan University and Penn State? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Rowan University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $2,000 more per year than Rowan University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rowan University graduates have a $6,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Rowan University graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($206 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rowan University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.