Florida vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Florida 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 Florida
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Florida Gainesville, FL
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Florida Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Florida 56,311
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Florida Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Florida #74
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Florida -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Florida Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Florida
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Florida $6,381
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Florida $28,659
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Florida $12,120
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Florida $11,936
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Florida $10,846
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Florida 91%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Florida 73,557
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Florida 17,804
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Florida 24.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Florida 42.2%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Florida 1400
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Florida 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Florida 3.9
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Florida A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Florida Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Florida Very High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Florida 29/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Florida 1320/1480
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Florida Required
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Florida Mar 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Florida 16:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Florida
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Florida 84%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Florida $62,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Florida 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Florida $15,815
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Florida $163
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Florida 44%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Florida 56%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Florida High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Florida No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Florida 57%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Florida 8%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Florida 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Florida 21%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Florida 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Florida 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Florida 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Florida 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Florida 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Florida 73%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Florida 19%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Florida in Gainesville, FL with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Florida is larger than Penn State based on total student enrollment (56,311 students vs. 50,737 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Florida is located in Gainesville, FL (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Florida 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 Florida 16:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Florida vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Florida 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 Florida than Penn State ($11,936 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Florida are 16.3% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($12,120 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 223.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Florida (about $14,263 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $6,381.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 45.8% higher at Penn State than at University of Florida (about $13,131 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $28,659.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Florida than at Penn State Main Campus (91% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 4.5% larger than aid received by University of Florida students ($11,336 vs. $10,846).

Florida vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Florida 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 Florida.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Florida (1400) is 70 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Florida students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 29 at Penn State).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 1320/1480; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Florida 29/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Florida - Required; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Florida Mar 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Florida (24.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 42.2% at Florida vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Florida vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Florida 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 Florida's (84%).
  • Graduates from University of Florida earn a median of about $7,300 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Florida graduates have a $11,003 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($15,815 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Florida graduates have an estimated $114 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($163 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Florida students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 68%)

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.