Canisius vs. Penn State

Deciding between Canisius 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.

Canisius University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Canisius Buffalo, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Canisius Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Canisius 2,451
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Canisius Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Canisius #393
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Canisius Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Canisius Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Canisius
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Canisius $34,500
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Canisius $34,500
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Canisius $13,560
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Canisius $19,666
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Canisius $24,972
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Canisius 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Canisius 4,175
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Canisius 3,021
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Canisius 72.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Canisius 13.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Canisius 1190
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Canisius 25
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Canisius 3.7
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Canisius A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Canisius Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Canisius Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Canisius 22/28
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Canisius 1050/1320
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Canisius Test-free
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Canisius
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Canisius 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Canisius
    • Business (25%)
    • Psychology (11%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Canisius 67%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Canisius $49,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Canisius 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Canisius $24,750
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Canisius $255
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Canisius 48%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Canisius 52%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Canisius Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Canisius No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Canisius 73%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Canisius 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Canisius 8%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Canisius 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Canisius 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Canisius 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Canisius 1%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Canisius 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Canisius 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Canisius 77%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Canisius 15%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Canisius University in Buffalo, NY 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 Canisius based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,451 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Canisius University is located in Buffalo, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Canisius 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: Canisius University 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Canisius vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Canisius 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 Canisius University than Penn State ($19,666 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Canisius University are 6.3% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,560 vs. $14,474).
  • Canisius University is 67.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $13,856 more per year; $34,500.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.1% higher at Penn State than at Canisius University (about $7,290 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $34,500.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Canisius University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Canisius University students is 120.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($24,972 vs. $11,336).

Canisius vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Canisius 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 Canisius.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 140 points higher than at Canisius (1190).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Canisius).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Canisius University 1050/1320; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Canisius University 22/28; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Canisius - Test-free; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Canisius has a higher acceptance rate (72.4%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.1% at Canisius vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Canisius vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Canisius 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 Canisius University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $5,400 more per year than Canisius graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $49,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Canisius University graduates have a $2,068 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($24,750 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Canisius graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($255 vs. $277).
  • More Canisius graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (71% 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.