Dickinson College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny

Comparable Facts

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

Dickinson College is larger than Penn State Greater Allegheny based on total student enrollment (2,314 students vs. 352 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dickinson College is located in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting); Penn State Greater Allegheny is in McKeesport, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Greater Allegheny is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dickinson College 11:1; Penn State Greater Allegheny 9:1.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dickinson College or Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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 Greater Allegheny than Dickinson College ($15,574 vs. $38,483).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny (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 Greater Allegheny (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 Greater Allegheny (96% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dickinson College students is 300% larger than aid received by Penn State Greater Allegheny students ($44,479 vs. $11,121).

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Dickinson College (1390) is 210 points higher than at Penn State Greater Allegheny (1180).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Dickinson College 1310/1460; Penn State Greater Allegheny 1080/1280.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Dickinson College 30/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dickinson College - Test optional; Penn State Greater Allegheny - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Greater Allegheny has a higher acceptance rate (96.5%) than Dickinson College (42.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 21.1% at Dickinson College vs. 19.5% at Penn State Greater Allegheny.

Dickinson College vs. Penn State Greater Allegheny Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dickinson College and Penn State Greater Allegheny? 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.

• Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Penn State Greater Allegheny's (47%).
• Graduates from Dickinson College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Penn State Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny 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 Greater Allegheny graduates ($217 vs. $277).
• More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State Greater Allegheny 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.