Howard vs. Penn State New Kensington

Comparable Facts

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

Howard University is larger than Penn State New Kensington based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 421 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Penn State New Kensington is in New Kensington, PA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State New Kensington is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Penn State New Kensington 9:1.

Howard vs. Penn State New Kensington Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington than Howard ($19,504 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State New Kensington are 11.8% lower than at Howard University ($15,274 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 148.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State New Kensington (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 New Kensington (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 New Kensington (99% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 172.3% larger than aid received by Penn State New Kensington students ($21,262 vs. $7,809).

Howard vs. Penn State New Kensington Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Howard University (1210) is 20 points higher than at Penn State New Kensington (1190).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Howard University 1090/1320; Penn State New Kensington 1110/1265.
• 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 New Kensington - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027.
• Penn State New Kensington has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 22% at Penn State New Kensington.

Howard vs. Penn State New Kensington Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Penn State New Kensington? 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 New Kensington's (40%).
• Graduates from Penn State New Kensington 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 New Kensington graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State New Kensington graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State New Kensington 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.