Georgia vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Georgia 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 Georgia
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Georgia Athens, GA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Georgia Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Georgia 43,146
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Georgia Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Georgia #136
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Georgia -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Georgia Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Georgia
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Georgia $11,450
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Georgia $31,688
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Georgia $11,672
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Georgia $16,662
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Georgia $11,674
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Georgia 89%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Georgia 42,732
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Georgia 16,108
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Georgia 37.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Georgia 38.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Georgia 1380
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Georgia 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Georgia 4.0
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Georgia A/A+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Georgia Exceptional
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Georgia High
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Georgia 29/34
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Georgia 1270/1480
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Georgia Required
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Georgia Jan 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Georgia 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Georgia
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
    • Education (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Georgia 82%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Georgia $56,400
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Georgia 67%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Georgia $19,146
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Georgia $197
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Georgia 41%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Georgia 59%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Georgia Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Georgia No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Georgia 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Georgia 10%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Georgia 7%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Georgia 5%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Georgia 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Georgia 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Georgia 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Georgia 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Georgia 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Georgia 81%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Georgia 19%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Georgia in Athens, GA 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 Georgia based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 43,146 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Georgia is located in Athens, GA (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Georgia 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 Georgia 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Georgia vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Georgia 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 Georgia than Penn State ($16,662 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Georgia are 19.4% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($11,672 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 80.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Georgia (about $9,194 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $11,450.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 31.9% higher at Penn State than at University of Georgia (about $10,102 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $31,688.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Georgia than at Penn State Main Campus (89% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Georgia students is 3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($11,674 vs. $11,336).

Georgia vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Georgia 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 Georgia.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Georgia (1380) is 50 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Georgia 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 Georgia 1270/1480; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Georgia 29/34; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Georgia - Required; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Georgia Jan 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Georgia (37.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 38.3% at Georgia vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Georgia vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Georgia 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 Georgia's (82%).
  • Graduates from University of Georgia earn a median of about $1,100 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,400 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Georgia graduates have a $7,672 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,146 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Georgia graduates have an estimated $80 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($197 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Georgia students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

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.