Goucher College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Goucher College 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.

Goucher College
Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Goucher College Baltimore, MD
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Goucher College Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Goucher College 1,459
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Goucher College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Goucher College #305
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Goucher College -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Goucher College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Goucher College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Goucher College $53,350
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Goucher College $53,350
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Goucher College $17,190
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Goucher College $26,913
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Goucher College $43,791
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Goucher College 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Goucher College 3,683
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Goucher College 2,862
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Goucher College 77.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Goucher College 9.7%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Goucher College 1210
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Goucher College 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Goucher College 3.23
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Goucher College B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Goucher College Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Goucher College
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Goucher College 27/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Goucher College 1090/1325
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Goucher College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Goucher College Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Goucher College 9:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Goucher College
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Goucher College 70%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Goucher College $52,200
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Goucher College 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Goucher College $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Goucher College $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Goucher College 32%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Goucher College 68%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Goucher College Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Goucher College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Goucher College 65%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Goucher College 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Goucher College 12%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Goucher College 9%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Goucher College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Goucher College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Goucher College 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Goucher College 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Goucher College 4%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Goucher College 53%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Goucher College 38%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Goucher College in Baltimore, MD 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 Goucher College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,459 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Goucher College is located in Baltimore, MD (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Goucher College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Goucher College 9:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Goucher College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Goucher College 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 Goucher College than Penn State ($26,913 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 15.8% lower than at Goucher College ($14,474 vs. $17,190).
  • Goucher College is 158.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $32,706 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 27.7% higher at Goucher College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $11,560 more per year; $53,350.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Goucher College than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Goucher College students is 286.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($43,791 vs. $11,336).

Goucher College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Goucher College 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 Goucher College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 120 points higher than at Goucher College (1210).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Goucher College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Goucher College 1090/1325; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Goucher College 27/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Goucher College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Goucher College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Goucher College has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.7% at Goucher College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Goucher College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Goucher College 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 Goucher College's (70%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $3,100 more per year than Goucher College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $52,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Goucher College graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Goucher College graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Goucher College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (74% 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.