Caldwell University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Caldwell University 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.

Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Caldwell University Caldwell, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Caldwell University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Caldwell University 2,005
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Caldwell University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Caldwell University #439
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Caldwell University Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Caldwell University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Caldwell University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Caldwell University $40,848
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Caldwell University $40,848
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Caldwell University $14,188
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Caldwell University $21,875
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Caldwell University $32,340
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Caldwell University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Caldwell University 9,364
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Caldwell University 6,680
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Caldwell University 71.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Caldwell University 8.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Caldwell University 1250
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Caldwell University
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Caldwell University 3.3
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Caldwell University B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Caldwell University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Caldwell University Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Caldwell University
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Caldwell University 1130/1370
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Caldwell University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Caldwell University
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Caldwell University 12:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Caldwell University
    • Business (20%)
    • Psychology (19%)
    • Social Sciences (11%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Caldwell University 58%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Caldwell University $46,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Caldwell University 50%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Caldwell University $25,750
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Caldwell University $266
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Caldwell University 37%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Caldwell University 63%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Caldwell University High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Caldwell University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Caldwell University 39%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Caldwell University 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Caldwell University 15%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Caldwell University 18%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Caldwell University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Caldwell University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Caldwell University 0%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Caldwell University 6%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Caldwell University 18%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Caldwell University 68%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Caldwell University 12%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Caldwell University in Caldwell, NJ 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 Caldwell University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,005 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Caldwell University is located in Caldwell, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Caldwell University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Caldwell University 12:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Caldwell University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Caldwell University 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 Caldwell University than Penn State ($21,875 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Caldwell University are 2% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($14,188 vs. $14,474).
  • Caldwell University is 97.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $20,204 more per year; $40,848.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at Penn State than at Caldwell University (about $942 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $40,848.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Caldwell University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Caldwell University students is 185.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($32,340 vs. $11,336).

Caldwell University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Caldwell University 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 Caldwell University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 80 points higher than at Caldwell University (1250).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Caldwell University 1130/1370; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Caldwell University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Caldwell University has a higher acceptance rate (71.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.5% at Caldwell University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Caldwell University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Caldwell University 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 Caldwell University's (58%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $8,500 more per year than Caldwell University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $46,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Caldwell University graduates have a $1,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($25,750 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Caldwell University graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($266 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Caldwell University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 50%)

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.