USF Main Campus vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of South 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 South Florida
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USF Main Campus Tampa, FL
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • USF Main Campus Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • USF Main Campus 49,622
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • USF Main Campus Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USF Main Campus #411
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USF Main Campus -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • USF Main Campus Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USF Main Campus
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USF Main Campus $6,410
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USF Main Campus $17,324
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • USF Main Campus $14,440
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • USF Main Campus $11,579
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USF Main Campus $10,652
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USF Main Campus 83%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USF Main Campus 68,576
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • USF Main Campus 29,621
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USF Main Campus 43.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • USF Main Campus 23.3%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USF Main Campus 1230
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • USF Main Campus 26
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • USF Main Campus 3.64
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USF Main Campus A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • USF Main Campus Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • USF Main Campus Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • USF Main Campus 24/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • USF Main Campus 1130/1320
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USF Main Campus Required
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USF Main Campus May 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USF Main Campus 22:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USF Main Campus
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Psychology (9%)
    • Education (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USF Main Campus 52%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USF Main Campus $46,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USF Main Campus 57%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USF Main Campus $19,147
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USF Main Campus $197
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USF Main Campus 42%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • USF Main Campus 58%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USF Main Campus High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • USF Main Campus No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • USF Main Campus 51%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • USF Main Campus 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • USF Main Campus 11%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • USF Main Campus 21%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • USF Main Campus 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USF Main Campus 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USF Main Campus 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • USF Main Campus 5%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USF Main Campus 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USF Main Campus 81%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USF Main Campus 12%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of South Florida in Tampa, FL 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 USF Main Campus based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 49,622 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of South Florida is located in Tampa, FL (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of South 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 South Florida 22:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

USF Main Campus vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USF Main Campus 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 South Florida than Penn State ($11,579 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Florida are 0.2% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($14,440 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 222.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than USF Main Campus (about $14,234 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $6,410.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 141.2% higher at Penn State than at University of South Florida (about $24,466 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $17,324.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of South Florida than at Penn State Main Campus (83% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 6.4% larger than aid received by University of South Florida students ($11,336 vs. $10,652).

USF Main Campus vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USF Main Campus 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 USF Main Campus.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 100 points higher than at USF Main Campus (1230).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 26 at USF Main Campus).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Florida 1130/1320; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of South Florida 24/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USF Main Campus - Required; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: USF Main Campus May 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than USF Main Campus (43.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23.3% at USF Main Campus vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

USF Main Campus vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USF Main Campus 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 South Florida's (52%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $8,800 more per year than USF Main Campus graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of South Florida graduates have a $7,671 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($19,147 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, USF Main Campus 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 USF Main Campus students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 57%)

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.