Duquesne University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Duquesne 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.

Duquesne University
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Duquesne University Pittsburgh, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Duquesne University Large City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Duquesne University 8,234
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Duquesne University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Duquesne University #190
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Duquesne University Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Duquesne University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Duquesne University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Duquesne University $48,986
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Duquesne University $48,986
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Duquesne University $16,374
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Duquesne University $37,917
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Duquesne University $29,850
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Duquesne University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Duquesne University 12,893
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Duquesne University 10,773
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Duquesne University 83.6%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Duquesne University 13.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Duquesne University 1260
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Duquesne University 29
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Duquesne University 3.8
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Duquesne University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Duquesne University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Duquesne University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Duquesne University 26/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Duquesne University 1180/1340
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Duquesne University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Duquesne University Aug 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Duquesne University 12:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Duquesne University
    • Business (31%)
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Duquesne University 73%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Duquesne University $65,100
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Duquesne University 82%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Duquesne University $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Duquesne University $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Duquesne University 37%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Duquesne University 63%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Duquesne University Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Duquesne University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Duquesne University 81%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Duquesne University 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Duquesne University 5%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Duquesne University 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Duquesne University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Duquesne University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Duquesne University 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Duquesne University 4%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Duquesne University 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Duquesne University 73%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Duquesne University 25%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, 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 Duquesne University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 8,234 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University ($27,889 vs. $37,917).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 11.6% lower than at Duquesne University ($14,474 vs. $16,374).
  • Duquesne University is 137.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $28,342 more per year; $48,986.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 17.2% higher at Duquesne University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $7,196 more per year; $48,986.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Duquesne University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Duquesne University students is 163.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($29,850 vs. $11,336).

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Duquesne 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 Duquesne University.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at Duquesne University (1260).
  • Incoming Duquesne University students have the same typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate; 29) as students at Penn State (29).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Duquesne University 1180/1340; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Duquesne University 26/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Duquesne University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Duquesne University Aug 15, 2027.
  • Duquesne University has a higher acceptance rate (83.6%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at Duquesne University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Duquesne University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Duquesne 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 Duquesne University's (73%).
  • Graduates from Duquesne University earn a median of about $9,800 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($65,100 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Duquesne University graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Duquesne University graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Duquesne University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.