Howard vs. Penn State Brandywine

Comparable Facts

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

Howard University is larger than Penn State Brandywine based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 1,236 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State Brandywine is in Media, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Brandywine is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Penn State Brandywine 15:1.

Howard vs. Penn State Brandywine Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine than Howard ($22,710 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Brandywine are 16.4% lower than at Howard University ($14,474 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 135.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Brandywine (about $20,602 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $15,208.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41% higher at Howard than at Penn State Brandywine (about $10,418 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $25,392.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Penn State Brandywine (99% vs. 73%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 133.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Brandywine students ($21,262 vs. $9,113).

Howard vs. Penn State Brandywine Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Howard University (1210) is 10 points higher than at Penn State Brandywine (1200).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State Brandywine 1080/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 22/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Penn State Brandywine - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Penn State Brandywine has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 16.8% at Penn State Brandywine.

Howard vs. Penn State Brandywine Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Penn State Brandywine? 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 Brandywine's (37%).
• Graduates from Penn State Brandywine 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 Brandywine graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Brandywine graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Brandywine 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.