JCU vs. Penn State

Deciding between John Carroll University 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.

John Carroll University
Penn State Main Campus

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • JCU University Heights, OH
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • JCU Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • JCU 2,864
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • JCU Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • JCU #222
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • JCU Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • JCU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • JCU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • JCU $50,500
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • JCU $50,500
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • JCU $14,520
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • JCU $30,030
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • JCU $35,785
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • JCU 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • JCU 4,623
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • JCU 3,740
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • JCU 80.9%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • JCU 15.9%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • JCU 1260
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • JCU 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • JCU 3.66
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • JCU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • JCU Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • JCU
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • JCU 25/32
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • JCU 1180/1330
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • JCU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • JCU
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • JCU 13:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • JCU
    • Business (34%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Education (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • JCU 71%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • JCU $57,600
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • JCU 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • JCU $26,939
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • JCU $278
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • JCU 51%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • JCU 49%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • JCU Very Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • JCU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • JCU 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • JCU 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • JCU 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • JCU 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • JCU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • JCU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • JCU 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • JCU 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • JCU 1%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • JCU 69%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • JCU 31%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare John Carroll University in University Heights, OH 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 JCU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,864 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • John Carroll University is located in University Heights, OH (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • John Carroll University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: John Carroll University 13:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

JCU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, JCU 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 Penn State Main Campus than JCU ($27,889 vs. $30,030).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0.3% lower than at John Carroll University ($14,474 vs. $14,520).
  • John Carroll University is 144.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $29,856 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 20.8% higher at JCU than at Penn State Main Campus (about $8,710 more per year; $50,500.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at John Carroll University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by John Carroll University students is 215.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($35,785 vs. $11,336).

JCU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, JCU 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 JCU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at JCU (1260).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at JCU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: John Carroll University 1180/1330; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: John Carroll University 25/32; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: JCU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • JCU has a higher acceptance rate (80.9%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.9% at JCU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

JCU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for JCU 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 John Carroll University's (71%).
  • Graduates from John Carroll University earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($57,600 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $121 lower median loan debt than JCU graduates ($26,818 vs. $26,939).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $1 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than JCU graduates ($277 vs. $278).
  • More JCU 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.