Cedarville University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Cedarville 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.

Cedarville University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Cedarville University Cedarville, OH
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Cedarville University Town Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Cedarville University 6,318
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Cedarville University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Cedarville University #319
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Cedarville University Baptist
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Cedarville University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Cedarville University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Cedarville University $37,150
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Cedarville University $37,150
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Cedarville University $9,574
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Cedarville University $27,150
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Cedarville University $22,177
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Cedarville University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Cedarville University 5,298
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Cedarville University 3,459
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Cedarville University 65.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Cedarville University 34%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Cedarville University 1250
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Cedarville University 25
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Cedarville University 3.9
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Cedarville University A
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Cedarville University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Cedarville University Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Cedarville University 22/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Cedarville University 1130/1360
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Cedarville University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Cedarville University
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Cedarville University 14:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Cedarville University
    • Business (13%)
    • Health Professions (13%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Theology and Religious Vvocations (11%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Cedarville University 68%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Cedarville University $45,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Cedarville University 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Cedarville University $22,500
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Cedarville University $232
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Cedarville University 46%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Cedarville University 54%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Cedarville University Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Cedarville University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Cedarville University 87%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Cedarville University 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Cedarville University 2%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Cedarville University 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Cedarville University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Cedarville University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Cedarville University 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Cedarville University 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Cedarville University 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Cedarville University 39%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Cedarville University 57%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Cedarville University in Cedarville, OH 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 Cedarville University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 6,318 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Cedarville University is located in Cedarville, OH (Town Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Cedarville 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: Cedarville University 14:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cedarville University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Cedarville 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 Cedarville University than Penn State ($27,150 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cedarville University are 33.9% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($9,574 vs. $14,474).
  • Cedarville University is 80% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $16,506 more per year; $37,150.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12.5% higher at Penn State than at Cedarville University (about $4,640 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $37,150.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Cedarville University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Cedarville University students is 95.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($22,177 vs. $11,336).

Cedarville University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 80 points higher than at Cedarville University (1250).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 25 at Cedarville University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cedarville University 1130/1360; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Cedarville University 22/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Cedarville University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Cedarville University has a higher acceptance rate (65.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 34% at Cedarville University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Cedarville University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Cedarville 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 Cedarville University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $9,400 more per year than Cedarville University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $45,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Cedarville University graduates have a $4,318 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($22,500 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Cedarville University graduates have an estimated $45 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($232 vs. $277).
  • More Cedarville University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.