Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
AU Virginia Tech Georgetown UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass UB NC State Michigan State Clemson| George Washington University | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
George Washington | Penn State | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large City | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 25,568 | 50,399 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #76 | #171 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | gwu.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
George Washington | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $64,700 | $19,672 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $64,700 | $39,626 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,300 | $13,030 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $45,466 | $27,450 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $35,367 | $11,577 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 77% | 36% |
Admission |
George Washington | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 27,094 | 85,956 | ||
| Admitted | 11,798 | 46,605 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 43.5% | 54.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 21.5% | 19.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.81 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | Low | ||
| ACT Range | 31/34 | 27/32 | ||
| SAT Range | 1350/1500 | 1220/1400 | ||
| 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 5, 2026 |
Academics |
George Washington | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 15:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
George Washington | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 81% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $80,500 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 82% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,962 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $258 | $277 |
Diversity |
George Washington | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 22% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 34% | 8% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 56% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 6% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 4% | 3% | ||
| % International | 10% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 5% | 2% |
Students |
George Washington | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 1% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 88% | 40% | ||
Campus |
George Washington | 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 George Washington based on total student enrollment (50,399 students vs. 25,568 students)
George Washington vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, George Washington or Penn State?
- George Washington University is 228.9% more expensive to attend than Penn State for in-state tuition ($64,700.00 vs. $19,672.00)
- Out of state tuition is 63.3% higher at George Washington than Penn State Main Campus ($64,700.00 vs. $39,626.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Main Campus than George Washington ($27,450 vs. $45,466)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 25.1% lower than costs at George Washington University ($13,030 vs. $16,300)
- More students receive financial grant aid at George Washington University than Penn State Main Campus (77% vs. 36%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by George Washington University students is 205.5% larger than aid received Penn State Main Campus ($35,367 vs. $11,577)
George Washington vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, George Washington or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or George Washington .
- The average SAT score at George Washington University (1294) is 92 points higher than at Penn State (1202)
- Incoming George Washington students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (29) than students at Penn State (27)
- Penn State has a higher acceptance rate (54.2%) than George Washington (43.5%)
George Washington vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, George Washington 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 George Washington.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than George Washington University (87% vs. 81%)
- Graduates from George Washington University earn on average $25,200 more per year than Penn State graduates after ten years. ($80,500 vs. $55,300)
- George Washington University students graduate with a $1,856 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($24,962 vs. $26,818)
- George Washington graduates are paying $19 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($258 vs. $277)
- More George Washington 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/