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Virginia Tech UD Rutgers UConn Pitt UMass BGSU Cleveland State UB NC State Michigan State Clemson| Kent State University at Kent | Penn State Main Campus | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
| Location | Kent, OH | University Park, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 25,854 | 50,028 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #839 | #167 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | kent.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $12,304 | $18,368 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $21,410 | $35,946 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,676 | $12,744 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,046 | $26,747 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,539 | $10,066 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 96% | 44% |
Admission |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 20,369 | 85,784 | ||
| Admitted | 17,929 | 47,360 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 88% | 55.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 23.9% | 19.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.61 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | 26/31 | ||
| SAT Range | 990/1220 | 1210/1390 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 19:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
| Graduation Rate | 50% | 87% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $40,300 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 46% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $25,825 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $267 | $277 |
Diversity |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 37% | 53% | ||
| % Women | 63% | 47% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 75% | 69% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 3% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 6% | 11% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 3% | 2% |
Students |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 80% | 51% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 18% | 40% | ||
Campus |
Kent State | Penn State | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Penn State Main Campus is larger than than Kent State based on total student enrollment (50,028 students vs. 25,854 students)
Kent State vs. Penn State Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Kent State or Penn State?
- Penn State Main Campus is 49.3% more expensive to attend than Kent State for in-state tuition ($18,368.00 vs. $12,304.00)
- Out of state tuition is 67.9% higher at Penn State than Kent State University at Kent ($35,946.00 vs. $21,410.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kent State University at Kent than Penn State ($19,046 vs. $26,747)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kent State University at Kent are 0.5% lower than costs at Penn State Main Campus ($12,676 vs. $12,744)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Kent State University at Kent than Penn State Main Campus (96% vs. 44%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 5.5% larger than aid received Kent State University at Kent ($10,066 vs. $9,539)
Kent State vs. Penn State Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Kent State or Penn State? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State or Kent State .
- The average SAT score at Penn State Main Campus (1202) is 135 points higher than at Kent State (1067)
- Incoming Penn State students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (27) than students at Kent State (23)
- Kent State has a higher acceptance rate (88%) than Penn State (55.2%)
Kent State vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Kent State or Penn State? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Penn State and Kent State.
- The graduation rate at Penn State is higher than Kent State University at Kent (87% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn on average $15,000 more per year than Kent State graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $40,300)
- Kent State University at Kent students graduate with a $993 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State graduates. ($25,825 vs. $26,818)
- Kent State graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State graduates. ($267 vs. $277)
- More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kent State students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 46%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/