Howard vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Howard vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver than Howard ($18,581 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Beaver are 16.4% lower than at Howard University ($14,474 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 148.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $21,402 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 48.4% higher at Howard than at Penn State Beaver (about $11,676 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Penn State Beaver (99% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 135.1% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($21,262 vs. $9,045).

Howard vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or Penn State Beaver? 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 Beaver and Howard.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Howard University (1210) is 20 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Howard students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 25) as students at Penn State Beaver (25).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Howard vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Penn State Beaver? 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).

• Howard University's six-year graduation rate (63%) is higher than Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $3,500 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 33%)

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.