Dickinson College vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Dickinson College is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (2,314 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver than Dickinson College ($18,581 vs. $38,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 15.4% lower than at Dickinson College ($14,474 vs. $17,100).
• Dickinson College is 355.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $51,242 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 172% higher at Dickinson College than at Penn State Beaver (about $41,516 more per year; $65,650.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Penn State Beaver (96% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 391.8% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($44,479 vs. $9,045).

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dickinson College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver and Dickinson College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 200 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Dickinson College students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 25 at Penn State Beaver).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 1310/1460; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Dickinson College 30/33; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson College and Penn State Beaver? 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).

• Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Penn State Beaver graduates about ten years after starting college ($62,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $5,818 lower median loan debt than Penn State Beaver graduates ($21,000 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($217 vs. $277).
• More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Beaver students, three years after graduation. (89% 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.