DeSales University vs. Penn State

Deciding between DeSales 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.

DeSales University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • DeSales University Center Valley, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • DeSales University Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • DeSales University 2,972
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • DeSales University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • DeSales University #322
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • DeSales University Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • DeSales University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • DeSales University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • DeSales University $46,800
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • DeSales University $46,800
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • DeSales University $13,800
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • DeSales University $31,732
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • DeSales University $30,909
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • DeSales University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • DeSales University 3,977
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • DeSales University 3,066
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • DeSales University 77.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • DeSales University 16.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • DeSales University 1180
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • DeSales University 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • DeSales University 3.39
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • DeSales University B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • DeSales University Average
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • DeSales University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • DeSales University 27/28
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • DeSales University 1090/1260
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • DeSales University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • DeSales University Aug 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • DeSales University 12:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • DeSales University
    • Business (29%)
    • Health Professions (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (11%)
    • Biology (5%)
    • Communication (5%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • DeSales University 69%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • DeSales University $51,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • DeSales University 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • DeSales University $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • DeSales University $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • DeSales University 35%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • DeSales University 65%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • DeSales University Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • DeSales University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • DeSales University 75%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • DeSales University 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • DeSales University 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • DeSales University 12%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • DeSales University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • DeSales University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • DeSales University 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • DeSales University 0%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • DeSales University 6%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • DeSales University 70%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • DeSales University 30%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare DeSales University in Center Valley, PA 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 DeSales University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,972 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • DeSales University is located in Center Valley, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • DeSales 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: DeSales University 12:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

DeSales University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, DeSales 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 Penn State Main Campus than DeSales University ($27,889 vs. $31,732).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at DeSales University are 4.7% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,800 vs. $14,474).
  • DeSales University is 126.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $26,156 more per year; $46,800.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 12% higher at DeSales University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $5,010 more per year; $46,800.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at DeSales University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by DeSales University students is 172.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($30,909 vs. $11,336).

DeSales University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, DeSales University or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and DeSales University.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 150 points higher than at DeSales University (1180).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 27 at DeSales University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: DeSales University 1090/1260; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: DeSales University 27/28; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: DeSales University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: DeSales University Aug 1, 2027.
  • DeSales University has a higher acceptance rate (77.1%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.7% at DeSales University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

DeSales University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for DeSales University and Penn State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than DeSales University's (69%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than DeSales University graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, DeSales University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, DeSales University graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More DeSales University 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.