Lycoming College vs. Penn State

Deciding between Lycoming College 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.

Lycoming College
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Lycoming College Williamsport, PA
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Lycoming College Small City
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Lycoming College 1,012
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Lycoming College Private 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Lycoming College #334
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Lycoming College United Methodist
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Lycoming College Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Lycoming College
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Lycoming College $50,029
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Lycoming College $50,029
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Lycoming College $14,612
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Lycoming College $20,492
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Lycoming College $43,470
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Lycoming College 100%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Lycoming College 2,896
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Lycoming College 2,145
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Lycoming College 74.1%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Lycoming College 12.5%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Lycoming College 1190
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Lycoming College
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Lycoming College 3.57
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Lycoming College A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Lycoming College Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Lycoming College Low
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Lycoming College
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Lycoming College 1080/1300
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Lycoming College Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Lycoming College
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Lycoming College 10:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Lycoming College
    • Business (24%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Psychology (14%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • History (9%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Lycoming College 70%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Lycoming College $48,800
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Lycoming College 74%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Lycoming College $27,000
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Lycoming College $279
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Lycoming College 49%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Lycoming College 51%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Lycoming College Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Lycoming College No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Lycoming College 70%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Lycoming College 1%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Lycoming College 9%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Lycoming College 6%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Lycoming College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Lycoming College 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Lycoming College 3%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Lycoming College 5%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Lycoming College 6%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Lycoming College 51%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Lycoming College 43%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Lycoming College in Williamsport, 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 Lycoming College based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 1,012 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Lycoming College is located in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Lycoming College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Lycoming College 10:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Lycoming College vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Lycoming College 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 Lycoming College than Penn State ($20,492 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Main Campus are 0.9% lower than at Lycoming College ($14,474 vs. $14,612).
  • Lycoming College is 142.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State (about $29,385 more per year; $50,029.00 vs. $20,644.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Lycoming College than at Penn State Main Campus (about $8,239 more per year; $50,029.00 vs. $41,790.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Lycoming College than at Penn State Main Campus (100% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Lycoming College students is 283.5% larger than aid received by Penn State Main Campus students ($43,470 vs. $11,336).

Lycoming College vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Lycoming College 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 Lycoming College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 140 points higher than at Lycoming College (1190).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Lycoming College 1080/1300; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsPenn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Lycoming College - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Lycoming College has a higher acceptance rate (74.1%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 12.5% at Lycoming College vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Lycoming College vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Lycoming College 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 Lycoming College's (70%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Lycoming College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $48,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Main Campus graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Lycoming College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Penn State graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Lycoming College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More Lycoming College 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.