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USD UCSD Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UC Riverside UConn Pitt UMass UB Cal State Fullerton Cal Poly| San Diego State University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
| Location | San Diego, CA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 37,402 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #337 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | sdsu.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $19,714 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $13,017 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,934 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 43% | 44% |
Admission |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 77,250 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 30,331 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 39.3% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.7% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.82 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 22/29 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1090/1300 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Nov 30, 2023 |
Academics |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 25:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $53,400 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $15,349 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $158 | $277 |
Diversity |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 34% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 4% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 31% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 7% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 77% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 21% | 40% | ||
Campus |
San Diego State | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than San Diego State based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 37,402 students)
San Diego State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, San Diego State or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 219.9% more expensive to attend than San Diego State for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $5,742.00)
- Out of state tuition is 104% higher at Penn State than San Diego State University ($35,946.00 vs. $17,622.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at San Diego State University than Penn State ($13,017 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 54.7% lower than costs at San Diego State University ($12,744 vs. $19,714)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Penn State Main Campus than San Diego State University (44% vs. 43%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 1.3% larger than aid received San Diego State University ($10,066 vs. $9,934)
San Diego State vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, San Diego State or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or San Diego State .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 72 points higher than at San Diego State (1130)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at San Diego State (25)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than San Diego State (39.3%)
San Diego State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, San Diego State or Penn State? 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 Penn State and San Diego State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than San Diego State University (87% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $1,900 more per year than San Diego State graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $53,400)
- San Diego State University students graduate with a $11,469 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($15,349 vs. $26,818)
- San Diego State graduates are paying $119 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($158 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former San Diego State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 65%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/