LSU vs. Penn State

Deciding between Louisiana State 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.

Louisiana State University
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • LSU Baton Rouge, LA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • LSU Rural Fringe
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • LSU 41,705
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • LSU Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • LSU #350
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • LSU -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • LSU Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • LSU
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • LSU $11,954
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • LSU $28,631
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • LSU $15,142
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • LSU $21,430
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • LSU $14,094
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • LSU 88%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • LSU 47,065
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • LSU 34,513
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • LSU 73.3%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • LSU 23%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • LSU 1260
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • LSU 27
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • LSU 3.77
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • LSU A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • LSU Difficult
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • LSU Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • LSU 24/30
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • LSU 1180/1340
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • LSU Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • LSU Jul 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • LSU 21:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • LSU
    • Business (18%)
    • Education (10%)
    • Engineering (9%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • LSU 60%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • LSU $56,900
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • LSU 67%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • LSU $20,900
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • LSU $216
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • LSU 42%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • LSU 58%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • LSU Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • LSU No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • LSU 73%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • LSU 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • LSU 12%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • LSU 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • LSU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • LSU 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • LSU 2%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • LSU 2%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • LSU 0%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • LSU 60%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • LSU 39%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA 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 LSU based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 41,705 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Louisiana State University is located in Baton Rouge, LA (Rural Fringe setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Louisiana State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Louisiana State University 21:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

LSU vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, LSU 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 Louisiana State University than Penn State ($21,430 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 4.4% lower than at Louisiana State University ($14,474 vs. $15,142).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 72.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than LSU (about $8,690 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $11,954.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 46% higher at Penn State than at Louisiana State University (about $13,159 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $28,631.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Louisiana State University than at Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Louisiana State University students is 24.3% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($14,094 vs. $11,336).

LSU vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, LSU 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 LSU.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 70 points higher than at LSU (1260).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 27 at LSU).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana State University 1180/1340; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Louisiana State University 24/30; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: LSU - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: LSU Jul 15, 2027.
  • LSU has a higher acceptance rate (73.3%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 23% at LSU vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

LSU vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for LSU 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 Louisiana State University's (60%).
  • Graduates from Louisiana State University earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Penn State graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,900 vs. $55,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Louisiana State University graduates have a $5,918 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,900 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, LSU graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($216 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former LSU students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 67%)

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.