Brooklyn College vs. Penn State

Deciding between CUNY Brooklyn College 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.

CUNY Brooklyn College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Brooklyn College Brooklyn, NY
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Brooklyn College Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Brooklyn College 14,390
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Brooklyn College Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Brooklyn College #315
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Brooklyn College -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Brooklyn College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Brooklyn College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Brooklyn College $7,452
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Brooklyn College $15,402
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Brooklyn College $22,260
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Brooklyn College $4,512
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Brooklyn College $9,482
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Brooklyn College 90%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Brooklyn College 30,224
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Brooklyn College 17,639
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Brooklyn College 58.4%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Brooklyn College 10.1%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Brooklyn College 1150
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Brooklyn College
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Brooklyn College 3.42
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Brooklyn College B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Brooklyn College Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Brooklyn College Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Brooklyn College
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Brooklyn College 950/1340
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Brooklyn College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Brooklyn College Feb 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Brooklyn College 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Brooklyn College
    • Business (34%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Brooklyn College 48%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Brooklyn College $47,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Brooklyn College 54%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Brooklyn College $10,382
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Brooklyn College $107
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Brooklyn College 42%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Brooklyn College 58%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Brooklyn College Very High
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Brooklyn College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Brooklyn College 33%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Brooklyn College 18%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Brooklyn College 22%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Brooklyn College 22%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Brooklyn College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Brooklyn College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Brooklyn College 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Brooklyn College 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Brooklyn College 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Brooklyn College 88%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Brooklyn College 0%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare CUNY Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, 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 Brooklyn College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 14,390 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • CUNY Brooklyn College is located in Brooklyn, NY (Large City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • CUNY Brooklyn College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: CUNY Brooklyn College 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Brooklyn College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Brooklyn College 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 CUNY Brooklyn College than Penn State ($4,512 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 35% lower than at CUNY Brooklyn College ($14,474 vs. $22,260).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 177% more expensive for in-state tuition than Brooklyn College (about $13,192 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $7,452.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 171.3% higher at Penn State than at CUNY Brooklyn College (about $26,388 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $15,402.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at CUNY Brooklyn College than at Penn State Main Campus (90% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 19.6% larger than aid received by CUNY Brooklyn College students ($11,336 vs. $9,482).

Brooklyn College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Brooklyn College 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 Brooklyn College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 180 points higher than at Brooklyn College (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: CUNY Brooklyn College 950/1340; 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: Brooklyn College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Brooklyn College Feb 1, 2027.
  • Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (60.6%) than Brooklyn College (58.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.1% at Brooklyn College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Brooklyn College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Brooklyn College 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 CUNY Brooklyn College's (48%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $7,400 more per year than Brooklyn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $47,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Brooklyn College graduates have a $16,436 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($10,382 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Brooklyn College graduates have an estimated $170 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($107 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Brooklyn College students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 54%)

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.