Utah vs. Penn State

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

University of Utah
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 86%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1290.
  • Cheaper after aid: Utah. Average net price is $16,583 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: Utah 55% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Utah $61,300 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

University of Utah Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
Utah86%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
Utah1190-1380
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Utah $11,306 less
Utah$16,583
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Utah $11,024 less
Utah$9,620
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Utah $10,930 less
Utah$30,860
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +32 pts
Utah55%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Utah +$6,000
Utah$61,300
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Utah 26,822
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Utah 23,062
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Utah 86%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Utah 26%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Utah 1290
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Utah 25
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Utah 3.64
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Utah A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Utah Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Utah
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Utah 1190-1380
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Utah 22-29
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Utah Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Utah Apr 1, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Utah $9,620
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Utah $30,860
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Utah $13,315
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Utah $16,583
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Utah $12,744
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Utah 73%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Utah 55%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Utah $61,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Utah 72%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Utah $15,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Utah $155
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Utah 19:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Utah
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Utah Salt Lake City, UT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Utah Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Utah 36,894
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Utah Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Utah #258
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT 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 Utah based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 36,894 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, UT (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Utah 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 Utah 19:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Utah are 8% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,315 vs. $14,474).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.4% higher at Penn State than at University of Utah (about $10,930 more per year; $41,790 vs. $30,860).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Utah than at Penn State Main Campus (73% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Utah students is 12.4% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($12,744 vs. $11,336).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 4 points higher at Penn State than at Utah (29 vs. 25, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Utah and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Utah Apr 1, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 26% at Utah vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Utah graduates have a $11,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($15,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Utah graduates have an estimated $122 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($155 vs. $277).
  • More Utah graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation (72% vs. 69%).

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

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