UC vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Cincinnati Main Campus 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.

University of Cincinnati Main Campus
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UC Cincinnati, OH
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UC Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UC 45,026
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UC Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UC #429
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UC -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UC Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UC
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UC $13,976
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UC $29,310
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UC $13,564
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UC $24,696
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UC $8,196
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UC 73%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UC 34,285
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UC 29,242
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UC 85.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UC 22.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UC 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UC 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UC 3.69
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UC A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UC Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UC
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UC 24/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UC 1160/1370
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UC Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UC Mar 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UC 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UC
    • Health Professions (16%)
    • Business (15%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UC 59%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UC $45,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UC 57%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UC $23,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UC $237
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UC 47%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UC 53%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UC Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UC No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UC 75%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UC 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UC 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UC 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UC 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UC 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UC 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UC 74%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UC 22%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Cincinnati Main Campus in Cincinnati, OH 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 UC based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 45,026 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is located in Cincinnati, OH (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Cincinnati Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UC vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UC 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 University of Cincinnati Main Campus than Penn State ($24,696 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Cincinnati Main Campus are 6.3% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,564 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 47.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than UC (about $6,668 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $13,976.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 42.6% higher at Penn State than at University of Cincinnati Main Campus (about $12,480 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $29,310.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Cincinnati Main Campus than at Penn State Main Campus (73% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 38.3% larger than aid received by University of Cincinnati Main Campus students ($11,336 vs. $8,196).

UC vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UC 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 UC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at UC (1270).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at UC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 1160/1370; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Cincinnati Main Campus 24/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UC - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UC Mar 1, 2027.
  • UC has a higher acceptance rate (85.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 22.5% at UC vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UC vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UC 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 University of Cincinnati Main Campus's (59%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $9,700 more per year than UC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Cincinnati Main Campus graduates have a $3,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($23,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UC graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($237 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.