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UVA Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass University of Richmond UB NC State Michigan State Washington and Lee| College of William and Mary | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
| Location | Williamsburg, VA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 9,762 | 50,399 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #69 | #171 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | wm.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $18,252 | $19,672 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $42,053 | $39,626 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,555 | $13,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $20,422 | $27,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $20,908 | $11,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 40% | 36% |
Admission |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,548 | 85,956 | ||
| Admitted | 5,741 | 46,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 32.7% | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 28.2% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.85 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 32/34 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1365/1510 | 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 2, 2026 |
Academics |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 91% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $68,700 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 85% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $19,500 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $201 | $277 |
Diversity |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 9% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 2% |
Students |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 60% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 35% | 40% | ||
Campus |
William & Mary | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than William & Mary based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 9,762 students)
William & Mary vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, William & Mary or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 7.8% more expensive to attend than William & Mary for in-state tuition ($19,672.00 vs. $18,252.00)
- Out of state tuition is 6.1% higher at William & Mary than Penn State Main Campus ($42,053.00 vs. $39,626.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at College of William and Mary than Penn State ($20,422 vs. $27,450)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 11.7% lower than costs at College of William and Mary ($13,030 vs. $14,555)
- More students receive financial grant aid at College of William and Mary than Penn State Main Campus (40% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by College of William and Mary students is 80.6% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($20,908 vs. $11,577)
William & Mary vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, William & Mary or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or William & Mary .
- The average SAT score at College of William and Mary (1353) is 151 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming William & Mary students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (30) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (54.2%) than William & Mary (32.7%)
William & Mary vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, William & Mary 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 William & Mary.
- The graduation rate at William & Mary is higher than Penn State Main Campus (91% vs. 87%)
- Graduates from College of William and Mary earn on average $13,400 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($68,700 vs. $55,300)
- College of William and Mary students graduate with a $7,318 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($19,500 vs. $26,818)
- William & Mary graduates are paying $76 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($201 vs. $277)
- More William & Mary graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (85% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/