Kettering University vs. Penn State

Deciding between Kettering 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.

Kettering University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Kettering University Flint, MI
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Kettering University Midsize City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Kettering University 1,466
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Kettering University Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Kettering University #234
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Kettering University -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Kettering University Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Kettering University
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Kettering University $48,470
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Kettering University $48,470
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Kettering University $10,400
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Kettering University $35,609
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Kettering University $25,641
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Kettering University 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Kettering University 2,161
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Kettering University 1,700
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Kettering University 78.7%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Kettering University 15.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Kettering University 1250
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Kettering University 28
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Kettering University 3.77
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Kettering University A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Kettering University Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Kettering University
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Kettering University 26/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Kettering University 1160/1330
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Kettering University Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Kettering University
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Kettering University 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Kettering University
    • Engineering (91%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (4%)
    • Business (3%)
    • Mathematics (2%)
    • Biology (1%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Kettering University 59%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Kettering University $76,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Kettering University 86%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Kettering University $26,399
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Kettering University $272
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Kettering University 79%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Kettering University 21%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Kettering University Low
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Kettering University No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Kettering University 76%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Kettering University 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Kettering University 4%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Kettering University 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Kettering University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Kettering University 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Kettering University 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Kettering University 5%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Kettering University 5%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Kettering University 84%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Kettering University 13%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Kettering University in Flint, MI 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 Kettering University based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,466 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Kettering University is located in Flint, MI (Midsize City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Kettering 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: Kettering University 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Kettering University vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Kettering University 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 Kettering University ($27,889 vs. $35,609).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kettering University are 28.1% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($10,400 vs. $14,474).
  • Kettering University is 134.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $27,826 more per year; $48,470.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at Kettering University than at Penn State Main Campus (about $6,680 more per year; $48,470.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Kettering University than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kettering University students is 126.2% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($25,641 vs. $11,336).

Kettering University vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Kettering University 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 Kettering University.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 80 points higher than at Kettering University (1250).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 28 at Kettering University).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kettering University 1160/1330; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Kettering University 26/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Kettering University - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Kettering University has a higher acceptance rate (78.7%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.5% at Kettering University vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Kettering University vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Kettering University 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 Kettering University's (59%).
  • Graduates from Kettering University earn a median of about $20,700 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Kettering University graduates have a $419 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,399 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Kettering University graduates have an estimated $5 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($272 vs. $277).
  • More Kettering University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn State students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.