UD vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Delaware 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 Delaware
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE 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 UD based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 24,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Delaware 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 Delaware 16:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UD vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 Delaware than Penn State ($19,139 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 5.9% lower than at University of Delaware ($14,474 vs. $15,386).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 22.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $3,834 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Penn State than at University of Delaware (about $390 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Penn State Main Campus (91% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Delaware students is 17.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($13,302 vs. $11,336).

UD vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 50 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming UD students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (30 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027.
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UD vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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 Delaware's (78%).
  • Graduates from University of Delaware earn a median of about $6,000 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,300 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Delaware graduates have a $2,615 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,203 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UD graduates have an estimated $27 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($250 vs. $277).
  • More UD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 69%)

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.