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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers Tennessee UConn Ole Miss Pitt UMass Auburn LSU UB NC State| The University of Alabama | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
| Location | Tuscaloosa, AL | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 38,644 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #404 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | ua.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $11,100 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,460 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,426 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,592 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $15,683 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 44% |
Admission |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 54,072 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 43,290 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 80.1% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.6% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.76 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very High | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 23/31 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1130/1410 | 1210/1390 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 66% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $49,900 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 59% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $23,750 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $245 | $277 |
Diversity |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 11% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 4% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 2% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 35% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 64% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Alabama | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| 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 Alabama based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 38,644 students)
Alabama vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Alabama or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 65.5% more expensive to attend than Alabama for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $11,100.00)
- Out of state tuition is 14.3% higher at Penn State than The University of Alabama ($35,946.00 vs. $31,460.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at The University of Alabama than Penn State ($20,592 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 13.2% lower than costs at The University of Alabama ($12,744 vs. $14,426)
- More students receive financial grant aid at The University of Alabama than Penn State Main Campus (82% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by The University of Alabama students is 55.8% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($15,683 vs. $10,066)
Alabama vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Alabama or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Alabama .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 21 points higher than at Alabama (1181)
- Incoming Alabama students have at the same average ACT score (27) as students at Penn State (27)
- Alabama has a higher acceptance rate (80.1%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Alabama vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Alabama 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 Alabama.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than The University of Alabama (87% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $5,400 more per year than Alabama graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $49,900)
- The University of Alabama students graduate with a $3,068 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($23,750 vs. $26,818)
- Alabama graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($245 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Alabama students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 59%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/