OU vs. Penn State

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

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 76.6%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1240.
  • Cheaper after aid: OU. Average net price is $18,574 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: OU 67% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: OU $59,300 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

University of Oklahoma Norman Campus Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
OU76.6%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
OU1140-1330
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
OU $9,315 less
OU$18,574
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
OU $10,847 less
OU$9,797
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
OU $14,413 less
OU$27,377
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +20 pts
OU67%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
OU +$4,000
OU$59,300
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • OU 24,893
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • OU 19,069
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • OU 76.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • OU 29.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • OU 1240
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • OU 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • OU 3.66
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • OU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • OU Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • OU
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • OU 1140-1330
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • OU 23-29
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • OU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • OU Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • OU $9,797
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • OU $27,377
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • OU $13,630
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • OU $18,574
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • OU $11,356
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • OU 99%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • OU 67%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • OU $59,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • OU 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • OU $20,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • OU $206
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • OU 18:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • OU
    • Business (20%)
    • General Studies (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • OU Norman, OK
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • OU Small Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • OU 30,851
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • OU Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • OU #245
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Oklahoma Norman Campus in Norman, OK 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 OU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 30,851 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Oklahoma Norman Campus is located in Norman, OK (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Oklahoma Norman 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 Oklahoma Norman Campus 18:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus are 5.8% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,630 vs. $14,474).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.6% higher at Penn State than at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus (about $14,413 more per year; $41,790 vs. $27,377).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Oklahoma Norman Campus than at Penn State Main Campus (99% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Oklahoma Norman Campus students is 0.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($11,356 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 3 points higher at Penn State than at OU (29 vs. 26, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both OU and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: OU Feb 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 29.3% at OU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Oklahoma Norman Campus graduates have a $6,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, OU graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($206 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former OU students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 68%).

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

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