LRC vs. Penn State

Deciding between La Roche 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.

Penn State Main Campus

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • LRC Pittsburgh, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • LRC Large Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • LRC 2,153
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • LRC Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LRC #748
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LRC Roman Catholic
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • LRC Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LRC
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LRC $34,052
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LRC $34,052
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • LRC $13,390
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • LRC $24,108
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LRC $23,083
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LRC 81%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LRC 1,976
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • LRC 1,497
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LRC 75.8%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • LRC 9.8%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • LRC 1070
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • LRC 18
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • LRC 3.2
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LRC B+
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • LRC Very Easy
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • LRC
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • LRC 15/22
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • LRC 940/1200
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LRC Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • LRC Aug 1, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LRC 11:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LRC
    • Business (35%)
    • Health Professions (17%)
    • Education (9%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LRC 51%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LRC $44,300
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LRC 62%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LRC $26,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LRC $268
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LRC 43%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • LRC 57%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LRC Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • LRC No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • LRC 62%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • LRC 1%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • LRC 8%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • LRC 2%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • LRC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LRC 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LRC 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • LRC 16%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LRC 8%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LRC 73%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LRC 18%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare La Roche University in Pittsburgh, PA 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 LRC based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 2,153 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • La Roche University is located in Pittsburgh, PA (Large Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • La Roche 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: La Roche University 11:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

LRC vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LRC 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 La Roche University than Penn State ($24,108 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at La Roche University are 7.5% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,390 vs. $14,474).
  • La Roche University is 64.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $13,408 more per year; $34,052.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 22.7% higher at Penn State than at La Roche University (about $7,738 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $34,052.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at La Roche University than at Penn State Main Campus (81% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by La Roche University students is 103.6% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($23,083 vs. $11,336).

LRC vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LRC or Penn State? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Penn State and LRC.

  • The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 260 points higher than at LRC (1070).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 11 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (29 vs. 18 at LRC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: La Roche University 940/1200; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: La Roche University 15/22; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LRC - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: LRC Aug 1, 2027.
  • LRC has a higher acceptance rate (75.8%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.8% at LRC vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

LRC vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LRC and Penn State? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than La Roche University's (51%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than LRC graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $44,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, La Roche University graduates have a $818 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($26,000 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, LRC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($268 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LRC students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 62%)

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.