UConn vs. Penn State

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

University of Connecticut
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: UConn (52.4% admitted vs 60.6%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1330.
  • Cheaper after aid: UConn. Average net price is $25,310 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: UConn 83% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: UConn $62,000 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

University of Connecticut Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
UConn more selective
UConn52.4%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
UConn higher
UConn1210-1440
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
UConn $2,579 less
UConn$25,310
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Penn State $400 less
UConn$21,044
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Penn State $1,922 less
UConn$43,712
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +4 pts
UConn83%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
UConn +$6,700
UConn$62,000
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • UConn 55,479
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UConn 29,065
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • UConn 52.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • UConn 15.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UConn 1330
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UConn 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • UConn 3.74
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • UConn A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • UConn Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • UConn Low
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • UConn 1210-1440
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • UConn 28-33
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • UConn Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • UConn Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • UConn $21,044
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • UConn $43,712
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • UConn $14,380
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • UConn $25,310
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • UConn $16,503
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • UConn 81%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • UConn 83%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • UConn $62,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • UConn 78%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • UConn $21,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • UConn $222
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • UConn 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • UConn
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • UConn Storrs, CT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UConn Town Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UConn 28,306
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UConn Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • UConn #106
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Connecticut in Storrs, 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 UConn based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 28,306 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Connecticut is located in Storrs, CT (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Connecticut 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 Connecticut 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Connecticut are 0.6% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($14,380 vs. $14,474).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.6% higher at UConn than at Penn State Main Campus (about $1,922 more per year; $43,712 vs. $41,790).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Connecticut than at Penn State Main Campus (81% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Connecticut students is 45.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($16,503 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 1 point higher at UConn than at Penn State (30 vs. 29, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both UConn and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UConn Jan 15, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.4% at UConn vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Connecticut graduates have a $5,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($21,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UConn graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($222 vs. $277).
  • More UConn graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 69%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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