Pitt vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 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 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Pitt Pittsburgh, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Pitt Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Enrollment
  • Pitt 35,724
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Pitt Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Pitt #138
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Pitt -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Pitt Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Pitt
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Pitt $21,926
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Pitt $41,430
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Pitt $13,620
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Pitt $25,223
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Pitt $16,494
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Pitt 53%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Pitt 60,898
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Pitt 35,372
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Pitt 58.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Pitt 13%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Pitt 1370
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Pitt 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Pitt 3.79
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Pitt A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Pitt Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Pitt Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Pitt 29/33
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Pitt 1280/1460
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Pitt Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Penn State Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Pitt
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Pitt 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Pitt
    • Business (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • English and Literature (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Pitt 79%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Pitt $58,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Pitt 75%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Pitt $26,909
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Pitt $278
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Pitt 11%
  • Penn State 8%
  • % Women
  • Pitt 16%
  • Penn State 8%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Pitt Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Pitt No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Pitt 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Pitt 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Pitt 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Pitt 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Pitt 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Pitt 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Pitt 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Pitt 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Pitt 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Pitt 64%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Pitt 33%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus in Pittsburgh, PA 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 Pitt based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 35,724 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Pitt vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than Penn State ($25,223 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus are 5.9% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,620 vs. $14,474).
  • University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus is 6.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $1,282 more per year; $21,926.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.9% higher at Penn State than at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (about $360 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $41,430.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus than at Penn State Main Campus (53% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus students is 45.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($16,494 vs. $11,336).

Pitt vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Pitt 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 Pitt.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus (1370) is 40 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 1280/1460; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus 29/33; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Pitt - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Penn State - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Pitt (58.1%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13% at Pitt vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Pitt vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Pitt 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 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus's (79%).
  • Graduates from University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Campus earn a median of about $2,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $91 lower median loan debt than Pitt graduates ($26,818 vs. $26,909).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Pitt graduates ($277 vs. $278).
  • More Pitt graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.