Allegheny College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Allegheny College 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.

Allegheny College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Allegheny College Meadville, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Allegheny College Distant Town
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Allegheny College 1,171
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Allegheny College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Allegheny College #193
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Allegheny College United Methodist
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Allegheny College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Allegheny College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Allegheny College $56,550
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Allegheny College $56,550
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Allegheny College $14,100
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Allegheny College $26,420
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Allegheny College $44,987
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Allegheny College 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Allegheny College 5,758
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Allegheny College 3,142
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Allegheny College 54.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Allegheny College 10.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Allegheny College 1270
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Allegheny College 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Allegheny College 3.53
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Allegheny College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Allegheny College Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Allegheny College Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Allegheny College 25/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Allegheny College 1173/1358
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Allegheny College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Allegheny College Feb 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Allegheny College 8:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Allegheny College
    • Biology (22%)
    • Social Sciences (18%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • Natural Resources Conservation (9%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Allegheny College 80%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Allegheny College $55,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Allegheny College 80%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Allegheny College $29,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Allegheny College $299
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Allegheny College 48%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Allegheny College 52%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Allegheny College Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Allegheny College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Allegheny College 76%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Allegheny College 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Allegheny College 6%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Allegheny College 7%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Allegheny College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Allegheny College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Allegheny College 5%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Allegheny College 3%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Allegheny College 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Allegheny College 53%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Allegheny College 40%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Allegheny College in Meadville, 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 Allegheny College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,171 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Allegheny College is located in Meadville, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Allegheny College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Allegheny College 8:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Allegheny College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Allegheny College 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 Allegheny College than Penn State ($26,420 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Allegheny College are 2.6% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($14,100 vs. $14,474).
  • Allegheny College is 173.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $35,906 more per year; $56,550.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 35.3% higher at Allegheny College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $14,760 more per year; $56,550.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Allegheny College than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Allegheny College students is 296.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($44,987 vs. $11,336).

Allegheny College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Allegheny College 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 Allegheny College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 60 points higher than at Allegheny College (1270).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at Allegheny College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Allegheny College 1173/1358; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Allegheny College 25/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Allegheny College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Allegheny College Feb 15, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Allegheny College (54.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.4% at Allegheny College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Allegheny College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Allegheny College 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 Allegheny College's (80%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $100 more per year than Allegheny College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $55,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $2,182 lower median loan debt than Allegheny College graduates ($26,818 vs. $29,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Allegheny College graduates ($277 vs. $299).
  • More Allegheny College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.