FDU vs. Penn State

Deciding between Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 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.

Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • FDU Madison, NJ
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • FDU Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • FDU 2,885
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • FDU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • FDU #391
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • FDU -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • FDU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • FDU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • FDU $38,004
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • FDU $38,004
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • FDU $16,270
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • FDU $25,585
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • FDU $28,294
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • FDU 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • FDU 5,652
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • FDU 5,380
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • FDU 95.2%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • FDU 10.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • FDU 1180
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • FDU 24
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • FDU 3.42
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • FDU B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • FDU Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • FDU
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • FDU 19/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • FDU 1040/1310
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • FDU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • FDU
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • FDU 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • FDU
    • Business (34%)
    • Psychology (16%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • FDU 55%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • FDU $52,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • FDU 60%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • FDU $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • FDU $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • FDU 43%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • FDU 57%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • FDU Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • FDU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • FDU 58%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • FDU 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • FDU 11%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • FDU 16%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • FDU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • FDU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • FDU 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • FDU 0%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • FDU 7%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • FDU 86%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • FDU 14%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus in Madison, NJ 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 FDU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,885 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is located in Madison, NJ (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

FDU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than Penn State ($25,585 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 11% lower than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus ($14,474 vs. $16,270).
  • Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus is 84.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $17,360 more per year; $38,004.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 10% higher at Penn State than at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus (about $3,786 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $38,004.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus students is 149.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($28,294 vs. $11,336).

FDU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, FDU 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 FDU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 150 points higher than at FDU (1180).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at FDU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 1040/1310; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus 19/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: FDU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • FDU has a higher acceptance rate (95.2%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 10.5% at FDU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

FDU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for FDU 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 Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus's (55%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than FDU graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $52,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, FDU graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former FDU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 60%)

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.