Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Clemson Syracuse Dickinson College| Franklin and Marshall College | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
F&M | Penn State | ||
| Location | Lancaster, PA | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 1,990 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #56 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fandm.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
F&M | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $65,652 | $18,368 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $65,652 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $15,040 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $31,135 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $49,177 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 63% | 44% |
Admission |
F&M | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,923 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 3,233 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 36.2% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 15.1% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | - | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | - | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 30/33 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 1310/1440 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
F&M | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 15:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
F&M | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 85% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $61,900 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 88% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $227 | $277 |
Diversity |
F&M | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 47% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 53% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 59% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 2% | 3% | ||
| % International | 14% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 6% | 2% |
Students |
F&M | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 25% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 53% | 40% | ||
Campus |
F&M | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than F&M based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 1,990 students)
F&M vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, F&M or Penn State?
- Franklin and Marshall College is 257.4% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($65,652.00 vs. $18,368.00)
- Out of state tuition is 82.6% higher at F&M than Penn State Main Campus ($65,652.00 vs. $35,946.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than F&M ($26,747 vs. $31,135)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 18% lower than costs at Franklin and Marshall College ($12,744 vs. $15,040)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than Penn State Main Campus (63% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 388.5% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($49,177 vs. $10,066)
F&M vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, F&M or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or F&M .
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (55.2%) than F&M (36.2%)
F&M vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, F&M or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and F&M.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Franklin and Marshall College (87% vs. 85%)
- Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn on average $6,600 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($61,900 vs. $55,300)
- Franklin and Marshall College students graduate with a $4,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($22,000 vs. $26,818)
- F&M graduates are paying $50 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($227 vs. $277)
- More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 69%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/