UVM vs. Penn State

Deciding between University of Vermont 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 Vermont
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • UVM Burlington, VT
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • UVM Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • UVM 14,476
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • UVM Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UVM #205
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UVM -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • UVM Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UVM
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UVM $19,058
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UVM $45,502
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • UVM $13,776
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • UVM $20,084
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UVM $19,897
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UVM 93%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UVM 27,138
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • UVM 17,722
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UVM 65.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • UVM 15.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UVM 1370
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • UVM 31
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • UVM 3.75
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UVM A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • UVM Very High
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • UVM Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • UVM 30/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • UVM 1290/1440
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UVM Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UVM Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UVM 17:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UVM
    • Social Sciences (17%)
    • Business (9%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (8%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UVM 72%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UVM $53,500
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UVM 83%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UVM $22,300
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UVM $230
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UVM 37%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • UVM 63%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UVM Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • UVM No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • UVM 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • UVM 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • UVM 1%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UVM 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • UVM 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UVM 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UVM 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • UVM 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UVM 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UVM 20%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UVM 78%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Vermont in Burlington, VT 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 UVM based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 14,476 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Vermont is located in Burlington, VT (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • University of Vermont 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 Vermont 17:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

UVM vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UVM 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 Vermont than Penn State ($20,084 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Vermont are 4.8% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,776 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 8.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than UVM (about $1,586 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $19,058.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.9% higher at UVM than at Penn State Main Campus (about $3,712 more per year; $45,502.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Vermont than at Penn State Main Campus (93% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Vermont students is 75.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($19,897 vs. $11,336).

UVM vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UVM 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 UVM.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Vermont (1370) is 40 points higher than at Penn State (1330).
  • Incoming UVM 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 Vermont 1290/1440; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Vermont 30/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UVM - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UVM Jan 15, 2027.
  • UVM has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.8% at UVM vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

UVM vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UVM 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 Vermont's (72%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $1,800 more per year than UVM graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $53,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Vermont graduates have a $4,518 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($22,300 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, UVM graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($230 vs. $277).
  • More UVM graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (83% 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.