Colgate vs. Penn State

Should I go to Colgate University or Penn State Main Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colgate or Penn State is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Colgate University vs. Penn State Main Campus comparison
Colgate University Penn State Main Campus College 3 College 4
Colgate University Penn State Main Campus
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Overview

 Colgate Penn State
Location Hamilton, NY University Park, PA
Setting Distant Town Small City
Enrollment 3,146 50,399
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #27 #171
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colgate.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Colgate Penn State
Tuition (In State) $66,622 $19,672
Tuition (Out of State) $66,622 $39,626
Room & Board $16,790 $13,030
Avg Net Price $26,954 $27,450
Avg Grant Aid $56,696 $11,577
% Receiving Grant Aid 43% 36%

Admission

 Colgate Penn State
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 21,130 85,956
Admitted 2,526 46,605
Acceptance Rate 12% 54.2%
Enrolled % 31.9% 19.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.77 -
Typical High School Grades A- -
Admissions Standards Exceptional Very High
Applicant Competition Very High Low
ACT Range 33/34 27/32
SAT Range 1430/1530 1220/1400
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2026

Academics

 Colgate Penn State
Student to Faculty Ratio 9:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Foreign Languages (7%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (7%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • Communication (9%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (7%)

Outcomes

 Colgate Penn State
Graduation Rate 92% 87%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $75,300 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 86% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $16,125 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $166 $277

Diversity

 Colgate Penn State
% Men 0% 8%
% Women 0% 8%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 67% 69%
% Black 4% 4%
% Hispanic 9% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 9% 11%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Colgate Penn State
% In-State 22% 51%
% Out-of-State 69% 40%

Campus

 Colgate Penn State
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required Yes Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Colgate based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 3,146 students)

Colgate vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colgate or Penn State?

  • Colgate University is 238.7% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($66,622.00 vs. $19,672.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 68.1% higher at Colgate than Penn State Main Campus ($66,622.00 vs. $39,626.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colgate University than Penn State ($26,954 vs. $27,450)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 28.9% lower than costs at Colgate University ($13,030 vs. $16,790)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Colgate University than Penn State Main Campus (43% vs. 36%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colgate University students is 389.7% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($56,696 vs. $11,577)

Colgate vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colgate or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Colgate .

  • The average SAT score at Colgate University (1374) is 172 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
  • Incoming Colgate students have a 5 point higher average ACT score (32) than students at Penn State (27)
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (54.2%) than Colgate (12%)

Colgate vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colgate or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and Colgate.

  • The graduation rate at Colgate is higher than Penn State Main Campus (92% vs. 87%)
  • Graduates from Colgate University earn on average $20,000 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($75,300 vs. $55,300)
  • Colgate University students graduate with a $10,693 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($16,125 vs. $26,818)
  • Colgate graduates are paying $111 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($166 vs. $277)
  • More Colgate 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/